(7 April 2008, Brussels) More pay, more rights, more equality were the battle cries of European trade union leaders at the ETUC Euro-manifestation in Ljubljana, Slovenia 5 April. 35.000 trade union representatives from many European countries marched in a colorful and joyful demonstration. We passed the message to European finance ministers that Europe’s workers have had enough of purchasing power being eroded, of the greed of their CEOs, and of Ministers who preach wage moderation but do not act against high profits, rising prices and the undermining of social rights by employers. ETUC General Secretary John Monks addressed the crowd calling for a Fair Wage of Public Service workers and a end to the pay gap between men and women amongst others. The EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stressed ‘Quality public services and quality pay and conditions go hand in hand. We want those who care for our children and parents, for the sick and dying, for cleaning our waste and ensuring our water and electricity and all other public service to be paid well. And higher minimum wages will first and foremost benefit women who work on low pay in public and private services’ to the thousands who gathered in front of the podium. The EPSU delegation included representatives from the Latvian Health workers, the Lithuanian, Slovenian and Hungarian energy workers, Italian public service union from CGIL and the Slovakian fire-fighters, many other affiliated unions walked with their confederations. We thank all for their participation in the demonstration and giving a strong voice to employers and governments that we need pay to rise with inflation and productivity and that workers, their families and the economy need real pay increases and not corporate greed.

 Read the ETUC press release

EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, at the Euro-demo 5 April 2008