SOC: Dauderstädt welcomes Green Paper on restructuring and anticipation of change (23.01.2012)

The President of the CESI Social Committee, Klaus Dauderstädt, welcomed the publication of the Green Paper “Restructuring and anticipation of change: what lessons from recent experience?” by the European Commission on Tuesday 17 January 2012.

Peter Heesen and Fritz Neugebauer, the Presidents of CESI, congratulate the new President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz on his election. (23.01.2012)

Knowing that the President was elected in a period of huge challenges at the European level, Heesen and Neugebauer like to stress on the role the Parliament is playing to overcome the current crisis: as only directly elected organ of the European Union its weight must be taken into account when it comes to measures that deeply concern the life and economic situation of citizens.

CESI Secretary General: Flexicurity may just be another word for the erosion of workers’ rights (20.01.2012)

As could be expected, with the beginning of the Danish EU Presidency the advantages of flexicurity to tackle unemployment, to raise the EU´s competitiveness and to overcome the current crisis are re-vaunted. It is obvious that in Denmark - where it is largely recognized that the model has turned out to be successful -, flexicurity is seen as a panacea against almost all ills.

Financial transaction tax´s impact on state pensions open (16.01.2012)

In view of the current debate on the introduction of a tax on financial transactions, CESI Vice-President Urs Stauffer recalls that austerity measures alone will not lead to balanced state budgets. According to Stauffer, additional measures to increase the revenuesof EU states will be necessary.

Danish Presidency: CESI asks for the reinforcement of Europe's social dimension (10.01.2012)

CESI and Jørgen Jørgensen, Managing Director of CESI's Danish member FF, welcome the efforts announced by the Danish Presidency on Friday to consolidate public finances and revitalise the labour market, which are an economic necessity for long-term growth. However, CESI misses strong political commitments to a more social, cohesive Europe. A new economic dynamism goes hand in hand with a better inclusion of all citizens in the EU social market economy. The quantitative targets for higher participation in the labour market should be coupled with the objective to create quality jobs and an increased solidarity with those who are excluded.

Voice for a social Europe (05.01.2012)

The new CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger urges political players to include public sector trade unions in the search for a way out of the global financial and European debt crises. Without their participation, applicable policies regarding debt reduction cannot be achieved, says Heeger. In 2012, he intends to concentrate CESI's efforts on developing a more social Europe in the crisis. “It is important that our voice as a European social partner can be heard loud and clear, especially in these times of crisis,” says CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger as he describes one of CESI's most important duties in 2012.

Klaus Heeger elected as new Secretary General of CESI (02.01.2012)

On 19th December, the Board of CESI has elected Klaus Heeger unanimously the new Secretary General of CESI. He is the successor of Helmut Müllers, who retired at the end of the year. “I appreciate the confidence the independent European trade unions have shown me“, said Heeger in a first statement. “With a strong membership and an established umbrella organisation in Brussels, we will defend the interests of European employees also in the future“, stated the incoming Secretary General.

SOC: Dauderstädt on the annual review on Employment and Social Developments (20.12.2011)

“The developments of the past months and years are very threatening. If the gulf between the rich and the poor continues to widen, social peace will be in jeopardy”, declared the President of the CESI-Social Affairs Committee SOC Klaus Dauderstädt on December 19th in Berlin as a reaction to the European Commission’s first annual annual review on employment and social affairs. Dauderstädt warned the states against pursuing one-sided policies. ”It will not be helpful should governments drive their economies too hard. A high unemployment rate will only intensify the problems still further,” Dauderstädt warned. The report had shown that, in many countries of the European Union, particularly in North and West Europe, social inequality was on the increase and only being reduced in a few countries.

FEMM: Televised stereotypes affect female labour market access (07.12.2011)

“The labour market is still not open enough for women,” says Kirsten Lühmann, chairwoman of the CESI committee on womens’ rights and gender equality. One important reason for this inequality is seen in the way men and women are presented in the media, in particular on TV. “Men are still shown as mechanics, lawyers and medical doctors, women are either presented in classical female roles such as nurses or hairdressers or as unrealistic superwomen,” says Lühmann.