Main News

2019-11-21 12:00

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.

2019-11-07 12:00

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.

2019-11-04 12:00

November 4 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 ‘average’ woman -in relation to the ‘average’ man- does not get paid anymore until the end of the year. In 2019, women have earned on average 16.0% less than men, which translates into 57 out of 365 days of the year until December 31. According to Kirsten Lühmann, President of CESI’s members’ Commission on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, policy makers and authorities are not doing enough to close the gap.

2019-11-01 12:00

Dear colleagues, members, partners and friends,

Last week I saw a wave of firefighters´ demonstrations in Paris. Being often the first on the spot in cases of emergency, firefighters were protesting against work overload, insufficient resources, a lack of recognition and – not last – third party violence! The slogans: “Do more with less. Welcome to the firefighters” or “Stop the political contempt for firefighters!”

2019-10-30 12:00

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.

2019-10-24 12:00

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.

2019-10-22 12:00

On October 25, CESI’s Europe Academy will hold a symposium on ”Trade unions for a zero tolerance towards violence at work: Protecting public sector workers in Europe” in Budapest, Hungary. The conference, which is co-funded by the European Commission as part of a larger project on the topic, is only open to CESI members and affiliates.

2019-10-07 12:00

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

2019-10-03 12:00

On September 26, CESI participated in the 2nd European education summit “Teachers First!” organised by the European Commission in Brussels. #EduSummitEU

2019-09-30 12:00

On September 19-20, CESI held a symposium on ”Precarious work: Empowering trade unions to address new challenges” in Palermo (Italy) conducted as part of the CESI Europe Academy.

2019-09-25 12:00

As the 178 years old travel giant Thomas Cook collapses, not only does the oldest travel institution come to an end, it also marks a trend in the travel market which may be due to debt, heatwaves, the internet, merciless competition and, as some speculate, Brexit.

2019-09-11 12:00

On Tuesday, the names and portfolios of the designated three Executive Vice-Presidents, five Vice-Presidents and 18 Commissioners have been unveiled by the President-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The European Parliament must now give its consent to the entire College of Commissioners, and we expect interesting hearings in the different committees.

2019-08-28 12:00

On September 19-20, CESI’s Europe Academy will hold a symposium on ”Precarious work: Empowering trade unions to address new challenges” in Palermo, Italy. The conference, which is co-funded by the European Commission as part of a larger project on the topic, is only open to CESI members and affiliates.

2019-08-21 12:00

On November 6, CESI Youth will hold the next edition of the CESI lunchtime event series “CESI@noon” on “Apprenticeships in the EU: How to ensure a better transition from education to work?”. The event is held in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the German Goethe Institut and Eurochambers. Save the date already now.

2019-07-05 12:00

Now that the top EU posts seem to have been attributed, time to take stock of this week’s ‘Summer deals’:

Firstly, it becomes apparent that it will be increasingly difficult to steer the European Union. Having seen the Summit camping close to our offices for so long with endless police escorts and sirens, delegations being shuttled around, one can only imagine what this has meant for politicians and their Sherpas. To sort out the Gordian Knot has never been as difficult.