Across the squares of Europe, people and their unions are gathering to celebrate International Workers\u2019 Day. After two years of confinement, the festive and burgeoning energy of the workers\u2019 movement will be back on the streets. It is a time to celebrate and a time to regroup.<\/p>\n
Unity and solidarity will be required for the coming period. Workers across Europe are facing dramatic hikes in the cost of living. By bargaining collectively, workers and their unions can ensure wages keep up.<\/p>\n
Within this context, collective bargaining is more important than ever. It is the main tool by which workers\u2019 can lift their wages and conditions. Under the flag of UNI Europa, services workers\u2019 unions from across Europe are defending, expanding and rebuilding this vital tool.<\/p>\n
We call on the European Union to ensure that its policies enhance workers’ collective bargaining say. In particular, it must fix its rules of public procurement to ensure that all companies that receive public contracts have and respect collective bargaining agreements with their workers. Governments cannot be in the business of creating poverty jobs.<\/p>\n