Congress delegates from across Europe will put forward their ideas for winning better working conditions, and strengthening social dialogue, collective bargaining, and workers’ participation in decision-making at all levels.

A statement from the ETUC Executive Committee highlights how workers have lost out on the benefits of European economic growth in recent years: wages and salaries make up a declining share of GDP of almost all EU countries; pay rises, in the eurozone in particular, have scarcely kept pace with inflation; the gap between rich and poor is growing, while women still earn on average 15% less than men; widespread inequalities between different countries mean that migrant workers are now being used to undercut agreed pay rates. “The ETUC cannot tolerate continually rising levels of poverty and inequality between and within EU Member States and between men and women,” declared ETUC General Secretary John Monks.

Trade unions are also sceptical about the current debate on so-called ’flexicurity’, due to feed into proposals from the European Commission in the near future. Greater flexibility must benefit the workforce as well as business, insists the ETUC, and should not lead to radical deregulation that penalises, above all, the most vulnerable workers. “We are witnessing the evolution of a single labour market in the EU,” said John Monks. “We have to ensure that it offers good jobs and that all workers get a fair and equal opportunity to participate.” According to the ETUC, better quality employment, strong social protection and social welfare, and consultation with the social partners are vital ingredients of an acceptable flexicurity arrangement.