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 Secretary General: High hopes in the Belgian Council Presidency
In a personal commentary, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger expresses high hopes in the Belgian Council Presidency.

New ECHR case law on the right to strike in public services
On December 14, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) delivered a judgement of major importance for civil servants in Germany.

Platform economy: One step closer to more decent work
On December 13, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on a new directive to enhance working conditions for individuals involved in the platform economy, potentially granting millions of them access to employment rights.

Merry Christmas! | Wishes from CESI SG Klaus Heeger
"On behalf of CESI, allow me to express my deep gratitude for your unwavering support and dedication."

New position on economic governance
A new position of the Presidium of CESI calls for a revised EU economic governance with more flexibility for investments in the resilience of public services.

CESI@noon on achievements of EU employment policy 2019-2023
CESI's final CESI@noon event edition of the year saw a high level panel with the EC Director General for Employment Joost Korte, the Chair of the EP EMPL Committee Dragos Pislaru, CESI's Secretary General Klaus Heeger and Vice-President Javier JordĂĄn, on the topic 'Mission accomplished? Achievements & open issues of EU employment policy 2019-2023'

Event: Better working conditions for healthcare professionals in the EU
Investments at national and EU level are called upon to ensure that the need for healthcare services is meeting the demand. This event in the European Parliament aims to bring awareness and sensibility towards the tough working conditions of the healthcare professionals in the EU and to assess possible venues to improve them.

CESI’s last Board meeting for 2023
On November 30, 2023, CESI successfully concluded its last board meeting for the year. The meeting marked a significant moment for the organisation as it addressed key issues and set the direction for the upcoming year.

New position on trade union demands on the European Year of Skills
At its last meeting of the year on November 22, CESI's Presidium adopted a new position on trade union demands on the current European Year of Skills.

Event: The new directive on fair work in platforms (POSTPONED)
Having participated in both stages of social partners' consultation on the proposed directive, CESI organises a 'CESI@noon' event on the topic with the participation of EU stakeholders and workers.

International day for the elimination of violence against women: Uniting for a safer world in 2023
Despite significant progress in various aspects of society, a harsh reality persists - violence against women continues to plague communities around the world.

European Semester Autumn Package: Investments in public sector resilience needed
Earlier this week, the European Commission published its annual Autumn Package, including the 2024 Annual Sustainable Growth Survey (ASGS) and the Joint Employment Report (JER). CESI welcomes the reports but calls to secure adequate investments in public sector resilience.

SynCrisis event in Lithuania
The event on November 17, 2023, served as a pivotal platform for addressing Europe's persistent crisis and its repercussions on Lithuania. Spearheaded by CESI, the event convened stakeholders, experts, and members to delve into pressing issues under the SYNCRISIS project.

ACTIVER conference in Vienna: Embracing the role of trade unions in refugee integration
On Tuesday November 21 CESI hosted a conference of its ACTIVER project on trade union involvement in active labour market policies, focussing on the particular issue of refugee integration. The event took place in Vienna in the premises of the Austrian public sector union GĂD.

Net Zero Industry Act: CESI supports European Parliamentâs quest to anchor decent work in public procurement
In yesterday's vote on a negotiation mandate for the Net Zero Industry Act, the European Parliament foresees to prescribe decent wages and working conditions as allocation criteria in public procurement procedures. CESI supports this objective in upcoming negotiations with the Council.

SynCrisis event in Hungary
Held over two days in Budapest, the event gathered key decision-makers and public service workers to address pressing issues.

Cooperation: The only way to overcome crises â Editorial of CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger
In an era of geopolitical upheavals around the world, the importance of a robust Europe that stays united cannot be overstated.

Event: Refugee Reception and Integration
Building welcoming communities through resilient and performing public administrations and services | November 21st 2023 | Vienna

Press release of CESI’s member CSIF on investiture agreements in Spain
CESI's member CSIF, the Spanish Central Independent and Public Employees' Trade Union, issued a press release on November 13th, 2023, emphasising its commitment to defending the equality of citizens before the law, judicial independence, and equal access to public services across Spain.

CESI contribution to second-phase social partner consultation on quality traineeships now available
In a second phase of a consultation of European social partner organisations, CESI has called for a new binding measure of the EU to improve the quality of traineeships in Europe.

CESI renews partnership in EU-OSHA Healthy Workplaces Campaign on safe and healthy work in the digital age
As the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) kicks-off its latest Healthy Workplaces Campaign edition today in Brussels, CESI has renewed its partnership in the campaign - to help raise awareness among unions across Europe on the need to manage digitalsation on the job in a fair manner.

dbb Jugend and German Greens Co-chairman MP Omid Nouripour discuss youth (un)employment in Germany
On Monday October 9, MatthÀus Fandrejewski, CESI Youth Representative and Chairman of the youth organisation of the German Civil Service Federation (dbb Jugend), met with the Co-Chairman of the German Green Party, MP Omid Nouripour.

Addressing Teacher Shortages: When the âpermacrisisâ causes yet another crisis in the teaching profession
On October 10, CESI Expert Commission on âEducationâ was hosted by its French teachersâ union SPELC in Paris.

European Commission work programme 2024: Concluding unfinished business
Today, the European Commission published its last annual work programme of its term for 2024. A series of unfinished proposals and initiatives should be concluded before the upcoming EU elections in June 2024.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Trade union representation as a key solution
October 17 is United Nations International Day For The Eradication Of Poverty, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the pressing global issue of poverty and taking action to eliminate it.

Resolution of CESI’s Presidium on the escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict
The Presidium of CESI has adopted a resolution on the escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

CESI health unions call for boost in investments in health care staff and services
On October 10, World Mental Health Day, CESIâs statutory membersâ Expert Commission âHealth Servicesâ convened in Brussels to speak up for further investments in health care staff and services.

Second CESI Firefighters Day 2023
On October 2 2023, firefighter unions affiliated to CESI convened to launch a call for action to increase investments in the firefighting sector and better equip Member States in their fight against extreme forest fires.

World Day for Decent Work: Workers in permacrisis
On the ocassion of this year's annual World Day for Decent Work, CESI, the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions, reiterates the importance of all of our sustained efforts to maintain and achieve decent employment for workers across Europe and beyond.

Back to duty. â Editorial of CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger
Clearly, policy makers must be on duty for workers during the next months. They need to work to bring down prices and safeguard jobs in a thriving economy.

New position on quality traineeships in the EU
As part of a European social partner consultation of the European Commission, CESI calls for new binding EU standards to end abusive traineeships in Europe.

SOTEU 2023: The EU more united than ever
The speech outlined the significant challenges faced by the European Union in recent years and its ambitious plans for the future, particularly in the domains of crisis management, employment, social affairs, gender equality, and public services.

Wildfires in Europe – The Crucial Role of Firefighters
European strategies for combatting fire, climate and sustainability are ever more urgent!

CESI Presidium condemns envisaged changes to national legislation on trade unions in Hungary
On August 15, the Presidium of CESI adopted a resolution to condemn an envisaged legal proposal of the Hungarian government to move away from the current national voluntary payment system of trade union membership fees from employers to trade unions. CESI joins its Hungarian member union MKKSz to criticise the proposed changes!

CESI joins forces with Erasmus University Rotterdam in the frame of the “SEISMEC” project
CESI is proud to announce that the independent trade unions will be a valuable partner in the âSEISMECâ project, which aims at improving workplaces, as part of the Horizon Europe Programme.

New position on strengthened equality bodies in the Member States
A new resolution of CESI is now available on the European Commission's parallel proposals for directives to strengthen national equality bodies. It calls for an improved cooperation between unions and equality bodies in cases of discrimination at work.

CESIâs 7th European Defence Round Table (EDRT)
26 September 2023 11:00 - 1:00 PM | online & in Brussels | In English & German languages

SHSP becomes a new observer at CESI
At its meeting in June, the Board of CESI approved the application of the Kosovo Post Trade Union Association (SHSP) to become a new observer at CESI.

New position on European Works Councils (EWCs)
At its last meeting before the summer break, the Presidium of CESI adopted a new position paper on the functioning of European Works Councils (EWC). It calls for a revision of the EU directive on EWCs, with a view to strengthening their role in the transnational information and consultation of workers.

CESI calls for adequate minimum income schemes in Europe
A new position of the Presidium of CESI is now available on the recent Council Recommendation on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion. It calls for adequate minimum income schemes that are, as a social policy tool, carefully calibrated in conjunction with adequate minimum wages as an employment policy instrument.

Summer 2023: Firefighters are Battling Blazes Across Europe
CESI pleads for fair working conditions and safety and an EU statute to protect them across borders!

From Brussels to Strasbourg; and from there, to the whole of Europe
Editorial of CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger

With CESI participation: New EU social dialogue committee on social services established
On July 10, the European Commission issued its decision to set up a new European sectoral social dialogue committee under its auspices on social services. CESI will be a part of this committee to represent its national unions in the field of social services.

OECD: 27% of jobs at high risk from AI
CESI is ready to engage with EU and national stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of AI at work will benefit workers and lead to better working conditions for all.

World Public Service Day: Europeâs public sector needs strengthening
Klaus Heeger: "We need to honour our public employees for their devotion, contributions and excellent work which often goes above and beyond the call of duty."

EU rules on platform work: Council agrees its position
On the basis of the approach agreed upon, the EU Council will now begin negotiations with the European Parliament, with a view to reaching a provisional agreement.

The âSummer Daysâ on âSocial Waysâ: Building Our Green Future Together
There are no new jobs on a new planet. Greening our economy and our is lives is without alternative. It will require significant commitments from all of us. It means adopting a new economic and social model with major impacts on the way we work and live.

CESI affiliates Carmen Jaffke and Eva FernĂĄndez UrbĂłn elected into EWL Board of Administration
At the General Assembly of the European Womenâs Lobby (EWL) on June 10-11 2023, CESIâs affiliates Carmen Jaffke and Eva FernĂĄndez UrbĂłn were elected into the Board of Administration of the European Womenâs Lobby (EWL).
