Published Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 10:20
by
amandinecrespy 
in New Social Europe (67 views and 0 comments)
Les « travailleurs
pauvres » ne sont pas des gens qui gagnent un petit salaire. Les «
travailleurs pauvres » sont des gens qui ne peuvent pas vivre de
leur travail, c’est-à-dire qu’ils ne peuvent pas se nourrir, payer
la cantine scolaire de leurs enfants, ou se loger décemment. Les
signes d’une forte poussée de la pauvreté dans la plupart des pays
européens sont alarmants. De plus en plus de gens qui travaillent
habitent dans des caravanes ou même des bidonvilles nouvelle
génération en périphérie des grandes villes, vont faire la queue
aux distributions de vivre par des organisations de charité, ou
cumulent – de manière illégale – deux jobs et travaillent bien plus
de quarante heures semaine pour pouvoir joindre les deux bouts.
Dans de nombreux pays européens, le niveau des salaires n’est pas
connecté à la réalité du coût de la vie. Il n’est pas tolérable que
des gens qui travaillent et payent des impôts soient relégués au
rang d’indigents parce que, sous les conditions du capitalisme
global d’aujourd’hui, la pression est mise principalement sur le
coût du travail.Published Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 11:35
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (210 views and 1 comments)
For International Workers' Day Yourspace welcomes the European Trade Union Confederation - or ETUC in short - to have their say! Advisor Ronald Janssen shares ETUC's visions for the PES manifesto:
Read the written contribution from ETUC here.
What do you think is the most significant challenge for workers'
rights in Europe?
Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 10:13
by
brianfrombrussels
in New Social Europe (322 views and 3 comments)
For people who like to know
what their fellow earthmen think of the world's affairs, nothing
can match an elevator. Your local pub or the back seat of a cab
are close competitors for sure, but still they don't quite make
it in front of an elevator. Well, perhaps I'm biased, considering
that I happen to spend more time in elevators than in cabs or at
my local lately.
Anyway, every month around the 15th whatever elevator I take, the
conversation between commuters seems to roll over the same topic:
the rent is paid, electricity and heating bills are gone and
various other charges dealt with and... well, so is the month's
money. Gone, vanished, not a euro in front of them - not to
mention any to be put on the side in prevision of worth days to
come. It seems that the only power left to the working class in
our liberal society, that is the purchase power, is melting away
like wax under the sun. And the regulars of my elevator are
usually civil servants, mind you. I guess you'd hear less
pleasant stories from elevators with a very different attendance
- steel workers from Mr. Mittal's group, for instance.
Even from the most cynical point of view, this can't go on. The
driving force behind our western economies is consumption. If the
people don't have the money to consume, well, it's quite easy:
the system collapses. And it's...
Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 16:46
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (246 views and 0 comments)
See more of his proposals and his debate here:
read more
Published Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 10:44
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (296 views and 3 comments)
Deborah Littman, Chair of London
Citizens Living Wage Network & UNISON
National Officer for Bargaining, at the New Social Europe debate in London, admitted she wholly agreed with many of
the proposals made in the New Social Europe discussion paper. But she
was concerned on how we get there, how we make social Europe a
concern for everyone.
Work has been made insecure, the social wage has been reduced and
there has been a steep decline in bargaining power from workers.
Communities have been dismantled, workers distanced from their
employers or contractors. There has been a very deliberate policy
to push back the gains of the workers, often by stealth.
Expectations have been constantly lowered to the extent that our
goal becomes not how we can make it better, but how can we
prevent it being that bad. How can you organise when you don’t
know who you’re actually working for? The trade unions struggle
with bargaining, sometimes too conservative in their approach.
The game has changed – we need to...
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:40
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (282 views and 0 comments)
To see more proposals and the debate please see the video below:
To read more:
Published Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 11:45
by
yoan.abiven
in New Social Europe (277 views and 1 comments)
The strike decided
by the Romanian workers in the Dacia plants ishows how much we
need to consolidate a Social Europe. The wages and working
conditions are the new adjustment variables of the new
international division of labour, even within the Union's Member
States. Employment is awarded to those deserving workers who are
ready to work a lot and earn little. The workers in Dacia want a
substantial increase in their wages, arguing that there is a lack
of workforce in Romania, and that is now starting to hit the car
manufacturing industry.
I am very happy to witness this social movement in Romanie. In
the end, this is a good sign of the successful integration of
this country in the Western economic area and the beginning of
its bridging its social and economic gap with the rest of Europe.
Under these conditions, an economic development founded on better
social conditions is more conceivable. Changes are underway in
the Romanian production system and for the better: the lack of
skills on which the present system is based seems to be on the
verge of disappearing. The EU should accompany these
transformations with strong social and modern policies in order
to anticipate the needs and also pave the way for social dialogue
and the organisation of social partners so that they can be put
at the heart of all these young democracies in the...
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 16:33
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (289 views and 0 comments)
Here is the last of
four reports from the manifesto debate in Denmark:
The manifesto theme 'New Social Europe' was one of the topics of
discussion when PES activists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway met
in Jørlunde, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd 2008. Here are the
conclusions from this dedicated discussion group:
Ole Christensen, MEP, introduced the workshop by speaking about
labour market policy in a new social Europe. One of the main
focuses was the role of Court of Justice in connection to the
Vaxholm case regarding the labour market models in the Nordic
countries.
The case was seen in connection to the increased mobility, out
posting of labour and the terms offered the employees as well as
the competition between foreign and domestic labour in relation
to collective bargaining.
The focus was also on the Danish labour market model and
flexicurity, the role of the parties within the labour market,
the social dialogue, rights and duties.
These great social democratic challenges were highlighted during
the discussion:
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 15:04
by
ania_skrzypek
in New Social Europe (365 views and 3 comments)
Not a long time ago,
by November 2007, ECOSY celebrated its 15 years anniversary. For that
occasion we asked our members why they joined the movement. Among
many answers the leading one was undoubtedly: because I wanted to
make a difference, because I wanted to change… Naïve? I would not
say so – I’d rather claim ‘refreshing to remember’, inspiring!
Now “New” usually stands for something that is different from
everything we know, that can give a potential hope – which is why
the "New Social Europe" seem to be the hope to
re-boost the discussion on what is the absolutely unique project
of Socialists and Social Democrats for Europe.
We know that the world has changed – we read that in every paper,
together with acknowledgements of all the threats that not only
hide in every corner, but even enter our houses; like
globalization that we voluntarily participate in each day when
switching the TV on. Everything is unstable, insecure,
questionable – and Superman or Spiderman seem up to date enough
to save us.
I am convinced that instead of a bunch of Armageddon tricks, we
need a vision that appeals to people, that...
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 11:03
by
phoenix999
in New Social Europe (433 views and 12 comments)
Hello,
A few months ago I had to change my cell phone and I purchased a Nokia phone. After that, I learned that Nokia was leaving Germany with the money of the Germans, leaving Germany for Romania because salaries and wages there were, in euros, FOUR times lower. "What a social Europe !" I said to myself then. If I had known that piece of news earlier, I would have joined the Germans in the Nokia boycott. Anyway I signed the German petition FOR the boycott. But things are changing and Europe is not just a huge market place, not yet : the Romanian automobile workers have decided to go on strike because their wages were too LOW whereas the auto company was making a huge profit with their low standard cars. There, we have two choices left, yes WE, us, Europeans, have one alternative:
- Either we choose to follow the media and think : Let's keep these poor fellas underpaid, because there will be a big competition with Morocco or India or whatever, and there, they pay even lower salaries (when and where, in the World, does it end ?);
- Or, we decide to make a political DECISION : We agree on a decent minimum wage across the whole European Union and we, Europeans, TAX importations from the poor countries where they pay their salaried slaves literally nothing and exploit women and small children. This is our last chance if we want a social Europe and there, as an exception to the rule, I'll quote George W Bush : ' Our living standards are...
read morePublished Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 10:05
by
negrescuvictor
in European democracy & diversity (409 views and 3 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 10:24
by
frederic.vareillas
in New Social Europe (476 views and 3 comments)
Hi,
American scientists have just filmed an electron in motion. Watch
it on Yahoo
News. It is time for us, Europeans, to pay our scientists a
decent wage, and pay them well. It is time for us to fund
correctly our science universities.
Who's going to find the next source of energy?
Yours friend,
Frederic
Published Friday, February 22, 2008 at 13:49
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (416 views and 1 comments)
On average European
women earn 15 percent less than men. Today is the 22. February –
the day where working women will have earned a wage equal to the
yearly salary of working men. That’s almost two months longer women
need to work to achieve the same income. Read more about the wage
inequalities here and give us your ideas - what can Europe’s
socialists do to shut the gender pay gap?Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 17:32
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (593 views and 0 comments)
There are plenty of examples of the negative impact on society of certain kinds of hedge and private equity funds. These funds, many financed with investments from pension funds, are on a hunt for short-term profit – something which too often is at the expense of worker’s rights and the long-term development of the company invested in. Many hedge and private equity funds also pay very little tax and, because they finance company buy outs with huge accumulated debts, they pose a threat to financial stability.
This type of ‘unhealthy investment’ was the topic of today’s second plenary at the PES Council. There was broad agreement among the speakers at the podium that the unregulated behaviour of hedge and private equity funds are a serious problem which urgently needs to be dealt with – for the sake of both workers and companies.
One of the speakers, Democratic Congressman Barney Frank (Chairman of the US House Committee on Financial Services), had taken the trip during the American thanksgiving holiday, across the Atlantic to urge collaboration between the US and Europe.
"If the US and Europe do not coordinate our efforts we will never be able to tackle the problem of hedge and private equity funds. The funds will then move and the problem is the same."
The...
read morePublished Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 14:27
by
anqa
in New Social Europe (617 views and 0 comments)
Another visit to the office of Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament and member of SLD in Poland. Among other things he raises the question of how we can make the vision of New Social Europe a reality in all EU countries.
How do you think we can assure high social standards in both new and old member states?
read morePublished Monday, November 12, 2007 at 15:27
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (514 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at 12:20
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (486 views and 0 comments)
Here is another interview from last week's conference about Decent Work. This time we have talked to Josep Borrell, former president of the European Parliament and president of the Global Progressive Forum.
What do you think socialists and social democrats should do to ensure decent working conditions - both for people in Europe and in the rest of the world?
Find more interviews from the conference at our YouTube channel, among others we have talked to Guy Ryder from the International Trade Union Confederation and Maria João Rodrigues, adviser for the Portuguese EU Presidency.
read morePublished Monday, November 5, 2007 at 14:23
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (467 views and 0 comments)
We talked to José Vieira da Silva, Minister of Labour in Portugal, at last week's conference about Decent Work in Lisbon.
read more
Published Monday, November 5, 2007 at 11:29
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (708 views and 1 comments)
Thanks to Labour MEPs Richard
Corbett and Linda McAvan for dedicating an hour of their
Yorkshire Regional Policy Forum to a discussion on the PES
manifesto.
Workers rights, a stronger commitment to a fair living wage, and
equality in the workplace were among the issues raised by the
audience alongside many questions about how the PES manifesto2009
consultation would work.
The consultation was welcomed by former MEP David Bowe who
suggested that the consultation should have add a new theme of
‘making Europe work’ (i.e. implementing all EU rules properly in
all countries). Rounding off the discussion was MP and former
Europe Minister Dennis McShane who told the meeting that Europe
was a ‘wedge’ issue between Labour and the increasingly
isolationist conservatives.
The meeting, which took place on November 3rd in Sheffield, also
featured a workshop on ‘An Environmental Union: the EU and
climate change’.
Published Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at 12:00
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (834 views and 0 comments)
Statistics show that a significant proportion of citizens
in Europe, 16 percent according to Eurostat estimates, are at
risk of poverty. Some employed people also find themselves living
in poverty because of the existence of precarious, low-paid jobs
in Europe – the so-called “working poor”. Decent minimum wages
are considered one of the best ways to fight working poverty.
All 27 EU member states have some form of minimum wage: most of them as a statutory right, whereas seven countries (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Sweden) have minimum wages through bargaining between employers and labour unions. This often taken place within sectors, which means that for a number of jobs there is effectively no minimum wage.
The level of minimum wages, however, varies a lot across Europe. Therefore, many people call for an EU target to be established for minimum wages, so that member states converge towards a decent minimum wage for all European citizens. Obviously, it is not possible to pay the same wages in all countries, because of the large differences in income across Europe. It makes more sense to compare minimum wages as a proportion of average gross earnings. Current rates range from 32 percent (Romania) to 52 percent (Ireland).
Experts propose to aim for 50...
read morePublished Friday, October 5, 2007 at 10:51
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (874 views and 3 comments)
Is there a
15 percent discount for European employers when hiring women
instead of men? Recently the European Commission published a
communication highlighting the gender pay gap as one of the
inequalities that women face in Europe. On average working women
earn 15 percent less* than working men. This is due to many women
working in lower paid sectors, the so-called glass ceiling, more
women working part-time than men and plain discrimination. This
15 percent difference could be translated as 15 percent of
working time that women have to work additionally in order to
earn the same as their male colleagues - or that 15 percent of
the time they work, they work for free. We could then say that
women will work for free from the 9th of November until New Year!
What can be done to overcome the gender pay gap? Is this only a women’s issue, or should men join the battle to erase this inequality? The EU has already taken certain steps, but should it receive more competence in this field?
The price tag above is from the PES Women action “Gender Pay Gap, Shut it!”
Read the communication on the gender...
read morePublished Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 03:01
by rikke in New Social Europe ( comments)
Despite a world economic boom, half of the world's workforce still earn less than 2 US dollars a day. 200 million children under the age of 15 work instead of going to school. To mobilise your government, sign the call to action for Decent Work.
The call to action has a strong support in the progressive community - among the supporting organizations are PES Global Progressive Forum, several trade unions and Solidar, a European network of NGOs working in development and humanitarian aid, social policy, social service provision and lifelong learning.
http://www.decentwork.org//index.php...om_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=29
Published Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 03:12
by rikke in New Social Europe ( comments)
More than 2,000 people have already showed their support for the Decent Work - Decent Life call for action on Facebook! Sign up for the cause using this link!
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/19050?fb_page_id=9725810627&
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