A turning point: Why the CJEU’s minimum wages ruling matters
By upholding the Minimum Wages Directive, the CJEU has set a clear signal: fair wages and strong collective bargaining are central to Europe’s social future. The judgment empowers governments to lift wage floors and tackle in-work poverty with renewed confidence.
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Evaluation of the EU postal services directive again a priority for CESI’s post & telecoms trade council
On Wednesday, December 18, CESI's Trade Council 'Post & Telecoms', bringing together CESI's sectoral telecommunications and postal services trade unions, convened for its last meeting of the year in Brussels. The agenda featured, above all, strategic work on CESI's position in the current evaluation and potential revision of the EU postal services directive.
New CESI position paper on the future of work
On the occasion of the beginning of the new EU legislative term, the CESI Presidium adopted a new position paper on 'The future of work: social protection, decent employment and interest representation'. As a key topic area for both trade unions and the incoming European Commission, the paper is intended to be a basis for further discussion and give impetus and guidance on how to manage employment and labour market in the era of digitalisation and work diversification during the next years.
UNI Europa, CESI, PostEurop adopt joint social partner statements the Postal Services Directive and on Training
On December 6 2019, at a plenary meeting of the European sectoral social dialogue committee on postal services, its component members -UNI Europa and CESI for the employees and PostEurop for the employers- adopted a joint statement on the review of the EU postal services directive 97/67/EC and a joint declaration on personnel training in the sector.
CESI Youth Board meets in Brussels to set priorities and objectives for 2020 and beyond
On December 10 the members of the Board of the CESI Youth convened in Brussels in order to set the CESI Youth’s overarching priorities and objectives for the next year.
CESI-supported European Policy Centre (EPC) study and high-level conference on the future of work
On December 9, the European Policy Centre (EPC) held the closing high-level conference on its CESI-supported project 'The future of work: Towards a progressive agenda for all', in conjunction with the publication of a study on the same topic.
CESI Trade Councils “Local and Regional Administrations” (ALR) and “Central Administrations and Finance” (ACF)
On the occasion of the last CESI Trade Councils "Local and Regional Administrations" (ALR) and "Central Administrations and Finance" (ACF), trade unions' representatives from several European countries, met in Brussels to share information about the most challenging issues for workers in their countries, to find common solutions and exchange views on related European policies of the newly formed College of EU Commissioners.
Editorial of the Secretary General: The future of the EU, work and CESI
Dear colleagues, members, partners and friends, Now that the new Commission is in place, time to focus on the to-do list for the coming years.
CESI Youth celebrates its candidate membership within the largest European youth organisation platform – the European Youth Forum
On Saturday 23rd of November 2019 in Amiens (France), CESI Youth received the vote of confidence from the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum to join their organisation as a candidate member.
Trade council ‘Education, training and research’ on how to raise the voice of teachers through CESI ‘Manifesto for the teaching profession: Horizon 2025’ (and beyond)
At its annual meeting in Brussels, CESI's internal members’ Trade Council committee 'Education' (EDUC) continued the discussion around the role of teachers in the European Education Area: how to better support them and strive to gain back the appropriate respect and appreciation for the profession.
Gender equality and employment commissions discuss upcoming EU policy priorities
On November 20 CESI's Commissions on Employment and Social Affairs Commission (SOC) and Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) convened in Brussels - As CESI's central members' committees for deliberation and positioning on horizontal EU employment, gender equality and social policy, the meeting saw orientation debates on the overarching topics for policy advocacy in 2020 and, more generally, the start of the new EU legislative term.
CESI@noon on ‘Apprenticeships in the EU: How to ensure a better transition from education to work?’
On November 6, CESI Youth held the 22nd edition of the CESI lunchtime event series "CESI@noon", this time on "Apprenticeships in the EU: How to ensure a better transition from education to work?". The event was held at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and in cooperation with the German Goethe Institut and EUROCHAMBERS. This lunchtime event in the framework of the European Vocational Skills Week engaged roughly 50 participants from various sectors: policy makers and experts, civil society, youth organisations, educational partners and representatives of the business sector.
CESI seminar in Budapest on “Unions in favour of a zero-tolerance approach towards external violence at work” | #NoViolenceAtWork
On October 25, the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) held a symposium on “Trade unions for zero tolerance towards third-party violence at work” in Budapest, conducted as part of the CESI Europe Academy project supported by the European Commission.
EU Court of Justice rules against equal information and consultation rights for central administration personnel
Today the EU General Court issued its judgment in case ‘EPSU vs European Commission’ over information and consultation rights of workers in governments. The case had concerned the question on the leeway the European Commission possesses to decide to not propose to the Council to convert an EU social partner agreement into an EU-wide binding directive. The Court concluded that the Commission’s right of initiative means it can decide on whether or not to make social partner agreements legally binding in all EU member states.
Upcoming on October 25: Europe Academy symposium in Budapest on third-party violence at work
World Day for Decent Work 2019
Today is the World Day for Decent Work. Trade unions all over the world and their allies are united in demanding decent work conditions for all workers, equal pay for work of equal value and safe working environments free from violence, harassment and discrimination. #wddw19
CESI at the 2nd European education summit
On September 26, CESI participated in the 2nd European education summit “Teachers First!” organised by the European Commission in Brussels. #EduSummitEU
CESI seminar in Palermo on precarious work – empowering trade unions to address the new challenges
Comment of the Secretary-General Klaus Heeger on Thomas Cook collapse and Greta Thunberg intimidating speech at the UN Climate Summit.
Editorial of the Secretary-General: the new proposed Commission – A brief comment
Upcoming on September 19-20: Europe Academy symposium on precarious work in Palermo
Upcoming on November 6: CESI@noon on ‘Apprenticeships in the EU: How to ensure a better transition from education to work?’
CESI Youth Board convenes in Brussels
On June 25 the CESI Youth Board met in Brussels to discuss some of the most important challenges which youth interest representation faces in the EU. As such, two topics at centre of the debate were (1) the role of interest representation for young people and (2) the future of work and how youth is impacted by the lack of sufficient transitions from education to work opportunities and sufficient recognition of skills, qualifications and certification.
New Manifesto on the future of the teaching profession in Europe
In June, the CESI Europe Academy concluded its capacity-building project, financed by the European Union, on 'Education professionals and trade unions in Europe: Horizon 2025' with the release and publication of a manifesto on the future of the teaching profession in Europe.
Europe Academy seminar in Madrid on violence against workers
On June 21 the CESI Europe Academy held a members' seminar on 'Violence at Work: Protecting our members as workers and victims' in Madrid.
ANFOS confirmed as a new member organisation of CESI
At its Board meeting on June 26, CESI welcomed ANFOS, the Italian Association of Health and Safety Instructors, as a new full member organisation.
CESI welcomes final adoption of EU regulation on a new European Labour Authority and new EU directives on work-life balance and on transparent and predictable working conditions
Public administration trade councils discuss challenges for performing public services personnel
On June 4, CESI's trade councils on Central administration and finances and on Local and regional administrations held a joint meeting in Brussels. Under the presidency of Willi Gloss and Hans Freiler, the meeting focused on a range of matters of concern for administration personnel, most notably: the taxation of the digital economy, the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion, re-municipalisations of services, the societal importance of well-equipped public services, recruitment and retention strategies in public administrations, and the fight against third party violence in the public sector.
Renewed cooperation between CESI and the Union of Finance Personnel in Europe (UFE)
On May 23, CESI leadership met with the Presidium of the Union of Finance Personnel in Europe (UFE) in Brussels to renew their cooperation agreement between the two organisations.
Trade Council ‘Health Services’ addresses staff shortages in the sector in Europe
Biweekly roundup of the CESI Secretary General
On May 14 the EU Court of Justice delivered another fundamentally important judgment on working time. On an action brought in by the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), the Court stated that “Member States must require employers to set up a system enabling the duration of daily working time to be measured”.
CESI, ALE & ATCEUC meet European Commission and EU Railways Agency over Just Culture in train driving
On May 13, the leaderships of CESI and its train driver affiliates from the Autonomous Train Drivers’ Unions of Europe (ALE) and air traffic controller members from the Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination (ATCEUC) met in Brussels with delegations from the EU Railways Agency (ERA) and the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission. The objective was to address the identified urgency of the ALE to advance discussions with EU decision makers on Just Culture for train drivers, based on positive experiences already made in the field of air traffic management.
CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger on Labour Day: Invest in people, invest in work
CESI and CGFP meet Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn
Yesterday, on April 24, the leadership of CESI and CESI's member organisation CGFP - the Luxembourgish General Confederation of Public Services - met with the Luxembourgish Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
CESI supports Polish teacher trade union WZZ Solidarnosc-Oswiata in national strike action
After ten days of the strike of teachers in Poland, tomorrow, on Thursday, April 18, a new round of negotiations with the government will take place to find a constructive solution on wages.
CESI seminar in Berlin on third-party violence against public sector personnel
On March 29 CESI held a seminar on 'Violence at work: Protecting our members as workers and victims' at the premises of its German member dbb, the German Civil Service Federation, in Berlin.
CESI-SATSE delegation meets MEPs over nurse staffing rations in healthcare provision
CESI supports the action of Polish teachers and trade unions on April 8
Today, April 8, Polish teachers and trade unions started a strike to express discontent in relation to an insufficient increase in wages. CESI sends a message of support and solidarity to the teachers and to its member organization WZZ Solidarność-Oświata.
CESI EU elections manifesto: 10 points for a more social Europe
At its Presidium meeting on March 21, CESI's Presidium adopted an EU elections manifesto, setting out 10 priorities for a more social Europe.
CESI Presidium convenes at CSIF in Madrid
CESI’s Spanish member CSIF, the Central Independent and Public Employees’ Trade Union -the most representative union in the national public sector and a growing actor in private sector too- hosted CESI’s first Presidium meeting of the year on March 21 in Madrid.
Employment and Gender Equality Commissions boost European Semester involvement of CESI and consult on equal pay for equal work
On March 7 CESI's members' Commissions on Employment and Social Affairs and on Women's Rights and Gender Equality convened for their first meeting of the year in Brussels. At the centre of the meeting were debates around the European Commission's current consultation on equal pay for equal work and on how to boost CESI's involvement and engagement in the European Semester process.
