CESI - Independent Trade Unions

Modelul Europei sociale este astăzi în pericol. Trebuie să facem tot ce este posibil pentru a păstra dimensiunea drepturilor sociale pe agenda acțiunii europene consolidând mecanismele existente și rolul partenerilor sociali. În calitate de vicepreședinte al Parlamentului European responsabil de relația cu partenerii sociali am prezentat şi explicat sindicatelor europene independente demersurile mele pentru instituționalizarea procedurilor de lucru precum și victoria obținută prin creșterea fondurilor pentru dialogul social european în bugetul UE. Pentru a crește încrederea în Uniunea Europeană este nevoie de o Europă care se preocupă de soarta angajaților europeni, nu de una care le ignoră drepturile, nevoile sau așteptările. O Europă pro-business are nevoie de lucrători calificați, care livrează rezultate la standarde înalte.

What a pleasure, what an honor to have been reelected SG of CESI for the next 5 years. Thanks for the trust, thanks to all those who participated and contributed to our 9th Congress! “Independence, Unity, Progress: Empowering Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow,” to highlight both the achievements and the challenges ahead - for CESI, for its members. Major successes have been achieved, but the challenges are huge. If we want, as our motto says, empower today´s workforce for the future, we must be fit. We must address the twin transitions without leaving anyone behind. We must address the competitiveness of our economy. We must address skills. For us this means: - strengthen collective bargaining and social dialogue as the most solid rocks in times of uncertainty. - engage with young workers and have answers to their specific needs, such as affordable housing, fair internships, and access to skills development. - ensure defending the interest of older workers - too often the losers of transition. - rethink our roles and activities, recruit new members, represent workers in atypical work or in platforms. - make sure public services are solidly equipped and staffed. A big thank you to our guest speakers: Roxana Minzatu Nicolas Schmit Li Andersson Oliver Röpke Victor NEGRESCU Congratulations to the newly elected members of the Presidium: Romain Wolff (CGFP, Luxembourg) Stauffer Urs (ZV, Switzerland) Erzsébet Péterné Boros (MKKSZ, Hungary) Roberto Di Maulo (CONFSAL, Italy) Patrick Fey (CNV, Netherlands) Volker Geyer (dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, Germany) Dagmara Iwanciw (WZZ-FO, Poland) Javier Jordán de Urries (CSIF Nacional, Spain) Milena Popovic Samardzic (SDMCG, Montenegro) Norbert Schnedl (Eurofedop)

2024 CESI Congress: Romain Wolff and Klaus Heeger re-elected to lead European independent trade unions 👏 Romain Wolff and Klaus Heeger were re-elected President and Secretary General of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) at its Congress held today in Brussels. As a recognised European social partner organisation and EU level interest group, CESI represents more than 6 million workers from over 40 trade union organisations across Europe. Both were elected by overwhelming majorities and will lead a newly elected Presidium completed by Urs Stauffer (ZV, Switzerland) as Treasurer and Péterné Erzsébet Boros (MKKSZ, Hungary), Roberto Di Maulo (CONFSAL, Italy), Patrick Fey (CNV, Netherlands), Volker Geyer (dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, Germany), Dagmara Iwanciw (WZZ-FO, Poland), Javier Jordán de Urries (CSIF Nacional, Spain), Milena Popovic Samardzic (SDMCG, Montenegro) and Norbert Schnedl (Eurofedop). Klaus Heeger enters his 5th term, having served as Secretary General since 2011 and having been re-elected in 2012, 2016 and 2020. Romain Wolff, who is also President of the Luxembourgish civil service trade union CGFP, has been President of CESI since 2012. Congratulations!

CESI - Independent Trade Unions la voz de Valorian en Europa Quedan 2 días para que se celebre el IX Congreso de CESI en Bruselas, que será inaugurado por Li Anderson, Presidente de la Comisión de Empleo y Asuntos Sociales del Parlamento Europeo. El congreso, además de servir para fijarse el plan estratégico y líneas de actuación para seguir creciendo y siendo cada día más influyentes en Europa, se presentarán nuevas ideas y propuestas de interés que marcarán la agenda del diálogo social europeo de los próximos años. Desde Valorian estamos muy orgullosos de formar parte de CESI y ostentar una vicepresidencia de esta organización que representa los intereses de más de 5 millones de trabajadores europeos. Gracias a CESI tenemos la oportunidad de contribuir a diseñar estrategias comunes a nivel europeo que priorizan las necesidades de los trabajadores europeos, más allá de los cambios políticos que se puedan producir en los distintos estados miembros. Este compromiso nos posiciona como un actor clave en el desarrollo de políticas que favorecen la justicia social y laboral en Europa. Valorian participa activamente en las comisiones de derechos de las mujeres e igualdad de género y de empleo y asuntos sociales, cuyos trabajos sirven para comparar las diferentes condiciones de trabajo en los diferentes países de la UE y extraer conclusiones para poder proponer al parlamento y consejo europeos. Este diálogo social, reconocido desde 2005, no solo fortalece nuestra capacidad de representación, sino que también refuerza nuestro papel como interlocutores sociales influyentes en Europa, asegurando que nuestras prioridades y valores se traduzcan en acciones concretas que benefician a las personas trabajadoras de la UE. Estamos seguros de que este congreso será una oportunidad constructiva para seguir avanzando en nuestra misión de mejorar las condiciones de empleo para los trabajadores en Europa. Klaus Heeger

⏳ Countdown! #SynCrisis Final Conference! Join us to explore how public services can effectively navigate multiple crises. 🗓️ December 13 📌 Brussels, Belgium Let’s #StrengthenPublicServices and #BuildResilience together!

📣 The countdown is on! Join us at the #CESIcongress24 on Dec 12 in Brussels. Shaping the future of work and public services together! 🤝 Be part of the discussion and the change. Luc VIEHÉ Sara Rinaudo Oliver Röpke dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion Fédération nationale des Spelc CONFSAL - Roberto Di Maulo Patrick Fey CNV Onderwijs CSIF Nacional Milena Popovic Samardzic Mario Nava Rubén García Bernal Valorian Manfred Wiedner Sabrina Maria Pellerito Roxana Minzatu Jean-Paul Soyer Victor NEGRESCU

CESI welcomes the political agreement reached on the new European Commission and calls for a strong social agenda 👏   In challenging times, the coming years present an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen Europe’s social dimension and address pressing challenges in the world of work and public services. At a time when economic, technological, and demographic transitions are reshaping the EU’s future, CESI urges the new European Commission to place the social agenda at the heart of its policymaking.  The European Pillar of Social Rights must move beyond commitments to tangible action, ensuring the principles of fair wages, secure employment, and quality working conditions are implemented across all Member States. We call on the Commission to:  -Strengthen labour rights and social protection by advancing collective bargaining, combating precarious work, and addressing inequalities, particularly for young people, women, and vulnerable groups. -Create more and better jobs by leveraging the opportunities of green and digital transitions, ensuring all workers and regions benefit from sustainable growth. -Foster meaningful and inclusive social dialogue by engaging trade unions, including the independent unions, as equal partners in shaping policies that reflect the realities of Europe’s workforce. -Promote equality and inclusion fostering diversity in workplaces and combating social exclusion at all levels. -Invest in quality public services as pillars of democracy, safeguarding adequate funding, fostering innovation, and addressing labour shortages. -Ensure fair, sustainable, and inclusive tax systems to finance robust social policies while addressing inequalities and combating tax evasion. The challenges ahead, from ensuring a fair green transition to tackling labour shortages and addressing the impacts of inflation, demand bold leadership and ambitious solutions.  CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger underlines: “CESI stands ready to support the Commission in its efforts to create a Europe that works for everyone – a Europe where social cohesion and economic growth go hand in hand.” #EuropeanCommission #SocialAgenda #LabourRights #PublicServices #SocialEurope

CESI at the Reshaping Work Conference in Amsterdam: A pioneering dialogue on AI and the future of work CESI - Independent Trade Unions was a proud partner at the 2024 Reshaping Work Conference in Amsterdam, where the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of work was front and center.  The conference gathered representatives of the European Commission, International Labour Organization, OECD - OCDE, United Nations, as well as leaders from the academia (KIN Center for Digital Innovation (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)), Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, UC Santa Barbara, Utrecht University, Maastricht University, University of Cambridge, Tel Aviv University, Stockholm School of Economics) and the private sector (Google, Financial Times, Zurich Insurance, Randstad Digital) offering CESI a valuable platform to engage in discussions on how AI is reshaping employment, workplace structures, and labour relations. CESI’s Dutch member organisation, CNV, shared practical insights on the impact of AI in the Netherlands, highlighting the devastating effects that automated decision-making without human oversight can have on workers. They emphasised the need for policies that support workers facing these technological shifts. AI discussions spanned several critical areas, including the potential for increased productivity and job transformation, the ethical and responsible use of AI to ensure fairness, and the urgent need for regulatory frameworks that protect workers’ rights as AI becomes more embedded in workplaces.    Speakers emphasised that #AI must complement rather than displace human #work, calling for frameworks that prioritise transparency, labour rights, and inclusivity. In its role as a conference partner, CESI hosted an engaging networking dinner, drawing together representatives from companies, think tanks, and academia to exchange insights and experiences. This gathering underscored CESI’s commitment to fostering collaboration among stakeholders, advancing the vision of AI that serves all members of society equitably. Reflecting on AI’s place in modern labour, CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger underscored that AI must empower workers rather than diminish job quality or security. He noted, “We need to harness AI’s potential while protecting worker rights. Ensuring fairness and balance in AI deployment requires collaboration across all sectors.” For more on CESI’s stance on AI at work, read the joint article by CESI SG Klaus Heeger and Sara Rinaudo, Chairwoman of CESI's working group on The Future of Work, on the Euobserver (https://lnkd.in/dy-c2DMx), along with CESI’s recent Resolution on AI, which highlights key principles for responsible AI at work (https://lnkd.in/dFWkDJmx). 

With a new European Commission on the horizon, CESI is focused on what this will mean for Europe’s workforce. Our Secretary General Klaus Heeger emphasises the opportunity for the incoming Commissioner to advance social fairness and strengthen employment policy, particularly through commitments to quality jobs and social rights. With Romania's Roxana Minzatu to lead a 'super-portfolio' on employment, skills and education, and Spain's Teresa Ribera focusing on just transitions, effective collaboration will be essential to tackle the social and economic challenges facing Europe’s workforce. Ahead of Commissioner hearings, CESI calls for concrete, binding measures to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions. Read the article of Klaus Heeger here: https://bit.ly/3A9m0nn

CESI welcomes the recent adoption of new rules by the Council of the European Union aimed at improving working conditions for #platform #workers. This crucial step will provide stronger protections and rights for millions of workers in the gig economy, including greater transparency, fairer wages, and enhanced access to social protections. As advocates for equal and fair workplaces, we view this development as a significant move towards ensuring that all workers, regardless of their employment status, are treated with dignity and respect.