The EU has lost an alleged €5 billion in tax from Google and Facebook over the last three years. “Taxes should not be paid only by those who cannot evade them,” said ETUC Deputy General Secretary Katja Lehto-Komulainen, adding that “Increased tax revenue is, ultimately, in the interests of business itself as a higher total tax revenue can lead to a lower overall taxation. ...  Preberi več

In Europe, women of  the IUF Spanish affiliates joined with their sisters in the national centers UGT and CC.OO in a 2-hour national women’s strike and nationwide demonstrations highlighting the gender pay gap, discrimination and violence against women gathering 500 000 people in over 120 cities. ...  Preberi več

European Commission Social Fairness Package
The European Trade Union Confederation has welcomed the European Commission’s Social Fairness package. In ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini’s words, “These initiatives should bring some real improvements for working people and ensure that the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights are implemented through binding measures that make a positive difference to people’s lives. It’s a step forward which the ETUC welcomes as far as it goes”. Part of the package is the proposal of a European Labour Authority (further information available here) and access to social protection. ...  Preberi več

The 2017 IUF 27th Congress adopted a resolution urging affiliates to prioritize the problem of gender-based violence, to collect the data needed to effectively map the scope and scale of the problem and to develop the tools needed to effectively combat it. The resolution calls on affiliates to implement the agreements on preventing sexual harassment that the IUF has concluded with Chiquita, Unilever and Sodexo and to extend these agreements to other transnational companies. ...  Preberi več

The EFFAT secretariat and all its member organisations are deeply saddened to hear of the death of friend and colleague Brian Revell. Following EFFAT’s merger, he served as one of the EFFAT Presidents between 2005 and 2009. Brian was an estimated national organizer at the UK Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&G). He was very committed to EFFAT’s European and the international trade union work. Everybody at EFFAT will miss the kind, constructive and supportive personality of a colleague and a friend. ...  Preberi več

We’d like to share some of the good initiatives received so far by the affiliates so that you can take inspiration and provide you with contacts to potentially receive more information:

USDAW – UK

Leaflet on tackling harassment and bullying
Free legal service and helpline
Guidance on the regulations with examples of good practice for employers to follow
Seven equalities forum divisions for every region. There are seats on the forums for non-engaged groups of members including LGBTQi members. The forums take the equalities agenda out into the workplace by organising workplace visits, local get-togethers and working with representatives and officers to recruit more members.
Run a separate national get-together for LGBT activists
Series pf publications: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/Help-Advice/Equalities/LGBT ...  Preberi več

Agreement in court between Coca-Cola and the workers of Fuenlabrada
On 13 February 2018, an agreement was reached in court between Coca-Cola Iberia Partners and the workers of the Fuenlabrada plant. This has a special importance for CCOO de Industria. It means a victory for the just demands of the people of Coca-Cola Fuenlabrada and an implicit recognition by the company of their salary rights recognized by the Audiencia Nacional. ...  Preberi več

EFFAT and their social partner in the European contract catering sector FoodServiceEurope obtained EU funding to update the “Guide on the economically most advantageous off in contract catering” in line with revised EU public procurement legislation. A call for tender was launched to find experts to do the update, a Project Steering Committee with representatives of EFFAT and FSE national member organisations was set up, a first meeting is scheduled for 8 February 2018. ...  Preberi več

To mark the start-of-the-year, the EP Intergroup for Tourism and Culture organised a Tourism Roundtable on 24 January 2018, to discuss achievements and future priorities of the Intergroup in the new year and until the end of the legislature. EFFAT Tourism Sector Secretary Kerstin Howald featured in the debate highlighting the need to ensure decent work in tourism to make the sector attractive to work in, to involve the social partners in all initiatives on vocational training and qualification, and to come up with guiding policy principles for the regulation of platforms in the field of short-term accommodation rentals. ...  Preberi več