A turning point: Why the CJEUâs 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 Europeâs social future. The judgment empowers governments to lift wage floors and tackle in-work poverty with renewed confidence.
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CESI Presidium Resolution on the European Commissionâs Social Fairness Package
At its meeting today, the Presidium of CESI adopted a resolution in response to the Social Fairness Package, a set of two proposals issued on March 13 by the European Commission on a 'Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed' and a 'Regulation on a new European Labour Authority'. In its resolution, the Presidium welcomes many of the ideas put forward in the Package but also expresses criticism and suggests amendments on a number of important points.
CESI conference addresses precarious work and lack of access to social protection
CESI honoured for longstanding commitment in EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces Campaigns
At this year's Good Practice Exchange Event and Award Ceremony of the 2018-2019 Healthy Workplaces Campaign of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), CESI was honoured for continued commitment as an official campaign partner over the last years. CESI has been a long-standing partner of the EU-OSHA healthy workplaces campaigns since 2009, biennial initiatives that focus on specific topics related to health-conscious working environments, providing information and clarification.
ATCEUC and ETF pursue campaign to maintain the right to strike in air traffic management
The Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination (ATCEUC), which is member of CESI, and the European Transport Workersâ Federation (ETF) have launched a campaign to oppose the European Commission's recent Communication and Staff Working Document âPractices Favouring Air Traffic Continuityâ.
Employment Commission Javier JordĂĄn de Urries Sagarna welcomes trilogue agreement on a new European Labour Authority
Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, invited the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) to discuss the situation of public sector workers, European elections and Brexit negotiations.
On Monday 11th of February, a joint delegation of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) and its affiliate Luxemburg Confederation of Public Service (CGFP) have been invited by Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg to discuss the current situation of employees in the public sector, the European elections and Brexit.
CESI Employment Commission President welcomes the agreement achieved between EU Commission, EU Parliament and the Council on transparent and predictable working conditions
Programme Commission discusses CESI priorities for 2019
On January 24, the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of CESI's horizontal Commissions and sectoral Trade Councils -CESI's specialised internal forums of debate for member organisations- met in Brussels to discuss their priorities for 2019. Like every year in January, this meeting of the 'Programme Commission' kicked off the new year's activities of CESI's Trade Councils and Commissions.
CESI@noon: What role for interest representation in the digital world of work?
On January 29, CESI and the Saxony Liaison Office Brussels hosted the 20th edition of CESI's lunchtime debate series 'CESI@noon', this time on 'Digital world of work: What role for interest representation?'
Upcoming on March 5: Precarious work and lack of access to social rights
Tuesday March 5 will see a CESI conference on 'Precarious work and lack of access to social rights: The particular case of fixed-term contracts'. Registration to the event, which will be held in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), is now open.
Education Package: Education on top of European agenda throughout 2018!
After the ambitious November 2017 communication on "Strengthening European identity through education and culture', the European Commission has now released the so-called 'Education Package'. Reflecting major parts of CESI's key demands in the education sector, Secretary General Klaus Heeger strongly welcomed the package.
Corporate tax reforms in Switzerland: The struggle of ZV Ăffentliches Personals Schweiz against looming tax revenue losses
Roadmap response to the European Commission in favour of qualified majority voting in EU social policy
CESI EU elections campaign: For Europe, and for a better Europe!
Five months ahead of the European elections on May 23-26, CESI has launched a European elections awareness-raising campaign. Promotional visuals for members, affiliates, and interested third parties are now available for download and dissemination.
Upcoming on January 29: CESI@Noon on âDigital world of work: What role for interest representation?â
#CESItalks with MEP Jeroen Lenaers: A new EU Labour Authority to fight social dumping and abusive employment in Europe
CESI welcomes French FA-FP and SSDMRS from Bosnia & Herzegovina as new full members
CESI signs multi-sectoral guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work
CESI supports ATCEUCâs Swiss member trade union Aerocontrol concerns over unjust conviction of an affiliate
In a press release on December 16, CESI's member ATCEUC, the European air traffic controller's union, raised strong criticism over an unjust conviction of a Swiss air traffic controller, an affiliate of ATCEUC's Swiss member union Aerocontrol, in the aftermath of an aviation incident at Zurich airport where no injuries or damages were observed.
CESI mourns the decease of its Vice-President José Fernåndez Vidal
The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) mourns the decease of its Vice-President José 'Pepe' Fernåndez Vidal from its member organisation CSIF, the Spanish Central Independent Public Employees' Trade Union, who passed away yesterday.
New CESI position papers on social dumping, a deepened EMU and the European Education Area
At its last meeting of the year today in Brussels, the Presidium of CESI adopted new position papers on steps for a more democratic and investment-related EU economic and monetary union (EMU), on trade union priorities for the European Education Area, and on measures to bring down social dumping in Europe, .
CESI condemns Strasbourg terrorist attacks
At its meeting in Brussels today, the Presidium of CESI issued a statement condemning the terrorist attacks at the Christmas market in Strasbourg earlier this week.
Trade Council Post & Telecoms engages in EU postal legislation evaluation
On Friday December 7 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 upcoming evaluation and potential revision of the EU postal services directive.
#CESItalks with MEP Helga TrĂŒpel: Invest in education, invest in young people and mobility
In our latest #CESItalks interview Helga TrĂŒpel, Greens/EFA MEP from Germany and Vice-President in the European Parliamentâs Committee on Culture and Education spoke with CESI about the necessity to budget up for youth and education in the EUâs next MFF, the role of the forthcoming European Solidarity Corps in helping young people to engage socially and the success of the Erasmus+ programme.
One step closer to better working conditions for truck drivers in Europe
After protracted internal negotiations the transport ministers of the Member States adopted, at a Council meeting on December 4, a common position on a reform of working conditions for truck drivers in Europe, as part of a broader 'Europe on the Move' mobility package proposed by the European Commission in 2017. According to CESI, the position can be the basis for better employment conditions in road transport in Europe.
CESI Europe Academy symposium: âEducation professionals: Horizon 2025â
On November 22-23 CESI held this year's Europe Academy symposium in Lisbon, which was this time was devoted to the future of the teaching profession. Under the theme 'Education professionals and trade unions in Europe: Horizon 2025', CESI had invited affiliates from its over 40 member organisations from more than 20 countries to discuss about the role and value of the teaching profession, employment and working conditions in educational institutions and perspectives for education systems in times of recent digital, societal and economic evolutions in Europe.
CESI to AFET Council: Donât forget about a social dimension in PESCO
On November 19-20 the Foreign Affairs Council met in Brussels to discuss a number of key issues for European security, reviewing EU-NATO cooperation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as well as the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, in particular the EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia. In a joint session, the defence and foreign ministers discussed the implementation of the EU Global Strategy in the area of security and defence. Reacting to the meeting, the President of CESI's Defence trade council, Thomas Sohst, who is affiliate of CESI's member DBwV (German Armed Forces Association), highlighted the importance of a social dimension in EU defence and security policies and measures.
EU area of freedom, security & justice under scrutiny at the CESIâs Justice and Security trade councils
On November 15 affiliates of CESI's member trade unions from the law enforcement and justice sectors met to explore the state of play and the future of the EU's area of freedom, justice and security. Participants from 8 EU member states and an organisation with observer status from Russia joined active discussions in the trade councils 'Security' and 'Justice' on the state of rule of law in Europe, personal protective equipment for law enforcement officers, violence at work and access to electronic data.
Consultation statement in favour of qualified majority voting in EU social policy
The European Commission work programme for 2019 includes an initiative to explore possibilities to switch from unanimous-based voting to qualified majority voting (QMV) in EU social policy making by the Member States in the Council. The procedural mechanism which the European Commission envisages for this switch relates to a so-called Passerelle Clause which the EU Treaties specify and according to which the Member States may, upon a proposal by the European Commission, decide by unanimity to transition future decision making in the Council in specified fields â such as parts of social policy â from unanimity to qualified majority voting and from a special legislative procedure to the ordinary legislative (co-decision) procedure. In its response to an ad-hoc social partner consultation by the European Commission which closed last week, CESI makes a case for a more integrated EU social policy making.
Commemorating the end of World War I â Remembering Europe
When on November 11 1918 the First World War came to an end, a conflict which to the day is also referred to as The Great War, had caused millions of casualties -civilian and military- and great suffering in societies across Europe and beyond. With many considering this war not least a result of excessive nationalism and isolationism in the years preceding it, its end however also set initial foundations for more democracy in Europe and the first-ever real international cooperation efforts which we continue to benefit from still today. According to CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger, we should recall this as today's politics in many countries in Europe and around the world is once again increasingly shaped by authoritarian and protectionist voices.
Paid annual leave: News from the Court of Justice of the EU
In recent judgments, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has strengthened the rights of workers (and their heirs) in relation to the application of the EU Working Time Directive.
EU Equal Pay Day 2018: Again on November 3
November 3 is EU Equal Pay Day. It symbolises the average wage gap between women and men across the EU Member States by commemorating the day on which the âaverageâ woman -in relation to the âaverageâ man- does not get paid anymore until the end of the year. In 2018, women earned on average 16.2% less than men, which translates into 58 out of 365 days of the year until December 31. According to Kirsten LĂŒhmann, President of CESIâs membersâ Commission on Womenâs Rights and Gender Equality, policy makers and authorities are not doing enough to close the gap.
âBetter regulationâ: More transparent, impartial and inclusive policy drafting needed at the EU level
Today, a public consultation on 'Better regulation' -the European Commission's central instrument to slim down EU legislation to the minimum of what is required "to achieve objectives and bring benefits at minimum cost"- comes to a close. In its consultation response, CESI calls for more transparent, impartial and inclusive EU policy drafting.
European Summit: A human dimension for Brexit, migration, internal security and external relations
The European Council which took place on the October 17-18 in Brussels focussed on Brexit, migration, internal security and external relations. According to CESI President Romain Wolff and Secretary General Klaus Heeger, all discussions need to feature a real human dimension focussing on the impacts of policies and political decisions on citizens and concerned workers.
Tripartite Social Summit: All workers count!
Earlier this week on Tuesday, October 16, the latest edition of the Tripartite Social Summit took place, bringing together the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and BUSINESSEUROPE, CEEP and UEAPME with European Commission President Juncker, European Council President Tusk and the Austrian Chancellor for the Austrian Council Presidency ahead of this week's European Council to discuss about key challenges in employment and social affairs in Europe. CESI welcomes this dialogue with EU leaders but calls for a more inclusive framework of interaction in the future.
CESI Personal Data Policy
At CESI, we are fully committed to ensuring the protection of personal data in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679).
Fortnightly editorial of the Secretary General
On October 3, Germany celebrated its 28th anniversary of reunification. As a Western German, a âWessiâ, I remember very well the fall of the Berlin Wall, my instant travel to Eastern Germany to meet with my Eastern German friends. But even after 28 years, divergences between the East and the West are still strongly felt. Eastern Germany is lagging behind economically, and some areas still suffer from major brain drain of young people. Not few there still feel as second class citizens.
International Decent Work Day 2018
Today, October 7, is International Decent Work Day. It is a day during which the principles laid down in the UN's International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) should be brought to the front line of our agendas.
CESI@noon: What constitutes working time under EU law?
On Wednesday September 26, CESI held a further edition of its lunchtime debate series âCESI@noonâ, this time on the very heated topic of the interpretation of working time legislation â more specifically on possible impacts of the recent âMatzakâ judgment of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) of February 21 2018 which had ruled that, under EU law, stand-by time of a worker at home who is obliged to respond to calls from the employer within a short period must be regarded as 'working time'.
Trade Council LRA meeting in Brussels: Digitalisation, transparent working conditions, precarious work through privatisation in regional and local administrations on the agenda
On Tuesday September 26 the members of CESI's members' Trade Council 'Local and Regional Administrations' (LRA) convened for their annual meeting in Brussels. CESI's trade union affiliates employed in local and regional administrations took the opportunity to deliberate on digitalisation effects on employment, EU measures for more predictable and transparent working conditions and spreading precarious work in their sector.
CESI Youth Board meets in Palermo
Last week, on September 13-14, the CESI Youth Board gathered in Palermo, Italy, for its second meeting. A productive exchange of experiences and ideas was conducted among the members, who reported on past activities and constructed plans for future endeavours.
Fortnightly editorial of the Secretary General
This week, Jean-Claude Juncker, outgoing President of the European Commission, held his last State of the Union address at the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg this week. Once a year, the State of the Union speeches display the Commission Presidentâs views on where the EU is heading and where it needs improvement. Not an easy task in times where the EU is being bashed around at all fronts for multiple organ failure (sometimes rightly, sometimes unjustifiably).
FEMM and SOC Commissions take a stand for better work-life balance, decent employment and social protection for all
At their meeting on September 6 in Brussels, CESI's members' commissions on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and on Employment and Social Affairs (SOC) reviewed progress in negotiations on the European Commission's proposals on work-life balance for parents and carers, on transparent and predictable working conditions, and on access to social protection for all. Under the chairmanship of the Presidents of the SOC and FEMM Commissions, Javier JordĂĄn and Kirsten LĂŒhmann from CESI's Spanish and German member organisations CSIF and dbb, CESI's affiliates voiced strong opinions and take-home messages in discussions with decision-makers from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Austrian Council Presidency. Also on the agenda: The ineffectiveness of gender equality plans in companies across Europe and abuses of fixed-term work regimes in public services.