Where does trade unionism come from ?

Curious? Click on the video below 

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How to vote ?  In a nutshell on our website

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Sure, the Industrial Revolution, the cradle of trade unionism, may seem far from us. Also distant is the struggle for social rights such as the right to strike, the prohibition of work for miners, paid holidays or even retirement pensions. Yet it is thanks to the mobilisation and commitment of the first unions that such social gains were made possible.

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But then, what is the role of the OSPs, in this 21st century Europe and more particularly in an institution such as ours, where no one would dare to question these social achievements?

 

To answer this question, let's go back a few decades, to the 1960s, at the very beginning of European integration. 

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The first demands of the new European civil servants to the unions concerned the creation of cafeterias, the establishment of a framework for maternity leave and the right to strike, which was initially refused by the Council before being granted in 1974 by the Court of Justice. 

 

It was in 1974 that the first "framework agreements" were negotiated between the Commission and the unions, institutionalising the role of the latter and defining the basis for social dialogue. 

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In the Parliament, social dialogue is governed by a framework agreement from 1990, which U4U is calling for to be updated in order to arrive at a model that is more effective in defending staff.

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During these elections to the Personnel Committee, it is very important that the staff vote massively for the lists in presence and guarantee a significant participation which will reinforce the legitimacy of the trade unions and will confirm them in their role.

 

The social dialogue was obtained with hard struggle to protect the staff, let's fight together to make it again meaningful.