Central European Trade Union Network (CETUN)

CETUN joins KOZ SR in calling on the Slovak government to halt its plans & engage in real social dialogue.
True fiscal responsibility must be shared across society, not imposed on those least able to pay.

✊We stand with KOZ SR & Slovak workers in their struggle - on the streets today & beyond.

5/5

These measures will cost workers around €814 million – nearly €400 per employed person – while others escape responsibility.

This is not fair burden-sharing, it’s austerity on workers’ backs.

4/5

The package was pushed through without genuine social dialogue.

It freezes wages, cuts benefits, raises worker contributions, and cancels agreed protections.

3/5

KOZ SR zorganizuje protest proti dopadom konsolidačných opatrení na pracujúcich - KOZ SR Konfederácia odborových zväzov SR zásadne nesúhlasí s tým, že najväčšie bremeno pripravovaného konsolidačného balíka nesú opäť pracovníci. Vláda a parlament postupujú bez skutočného dialógu so sociáln...

On 30 September 2025, KOZ SR is taking to the streets in protest against the Slovak government’s consolidation package.
This fight is about justice, dignity, and respect for all workers.
www.kozsr.sk/2025/09/22/k...

2/5

No Austerity on Workers’ Backs: Solidarity with Slovak Workers Against Unfair Budget Cuts In Slovakia, as across Europe, budget consolidation is yet again being pushed through without social dialogue and hits workers hardest. CETUN stands in solidarity with Slovak workers and calls for fai...

🇸🇰✊ CETUN stands in full solidarity with Slovak workers and the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic (KOZ SR) against unfair budget cuts.

Yet again, workers risk to be forced to carry the heaviest burden while corporations&fortunes remain untouched.
www.oegb.at/der-oegb/eur...
🧵👇 1/5

🔴The Quality Jobs Act announced today by President von der Leyen must meet the urgency of the situation facing working people

Trade unions have clear tests and, having waited so long for action, will not settle for half measures #SOTEU25

📰 www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...

Building Momentum for National Action Plans: Promoting Collective Bargaining in Central Europe The EU supports collective bargaining as the key to achieving upward wage and social convergence across member states. Building on work by ETUC and ETUI, we outline measures tailored to strengthen bar...

📢 It’s time to raise the floor - together.
Read the resolution, share it and support collective bargaining as the foundation of a stronger, more equal Europe.

This isn’t just policy—it’s a blueprint for fair growth.
National action plans must build momentum, phase by phase, to ensure every worker is protected and every employer plays fair.

Our resolution maps the road forward:
✅ Stronger unions
✅ Engaged employers
✅ Smart legal reforms
✅ Sector-wide bargaining
✅ Public contract conditionality
Each step designed for real impact in Central Europe.

The EU has made it clear: collective bargaining (CB) is the best tool for fair wages, better working conditions, and reducing inequality. But most member states fall short of 80% CB coverage - including most countries in Central Europe.

The Minimum Wage Directive mandates National Action Plans!
2/5

🇪🇺 Wage gaps. Worker shortages. Social fragmentation.

Central Europe needs stronger collective bargaining to tackle these issues, as EU institutions have consistently stressed in various documents and legislative acts.

Our new resolution shows how we get there. 👇

🧵1/5

Trump takes ‘wrecking ball’ to workers’ rights amid global ‘freefall’, new report says International Trade Union Confederation issued report showing conditions for workers’ rights across the globe have worsened

In several countries in the CE region there are repeated or systemic violations of rights.

⚠️ Many governments and/or companies are either regularly interfering in collective labour rights & failing to fully guarantee their respect or are engaged in serious efforts to crush them altogether.

2/2

Global Rights Index - International Trade Union Confederation Building Workers' Power

🚨 The 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index is out — and the picture for workers worldwide is grim with Central Europe no exception.

🔗 www.ituc-csi.org/global-right...

Governments & employers must be held accountable. Rights are not optional - they’re fundamental.

1/2

Deliberately weak legal remedies will create uncertainty and intimidation.

CSOs, watchdogs & media are likely first targets. But the chilling effect will reach all civil society - incl potentially trade unions. This bill further undermines free speech, democratic engagement and the rule of law.
4/4

Sanctions include:
🔊 Banks reporting foreign funding
🏧 Suspended transactions
👛 Heavy fines
🔎 On-site inspections
👨‍💻 Personal asset declarations
✋ Exclusion from key funding sources
🚫 Possible forced liquidation

3/4

📜The law would allow for the ❌blacklisting❌ of any group receiving foreign funds if its activities were deemed to "threaten Hungary’s sovereignty" - including potentially EU-funding.

🌫️Criteria are vague, enforcement broad.👐

2/4

Vonják vissza az átláthatósági törvényjavaslatot! Vonják vissza az átláthatósági törvényjavaslatot!

🔻 A new bill in #Hungary threatens media and civil society - including trade unions.

The “Transparency of Public Life” law could have devastating effects. #MASZSZ, the biggest trade union confederation in 󠁧󠁢󠁷🇭🇺, calls for its withdrawal: maszsz.hu/hirek/222/Vo...

Continue reading for more details 👇

5/
Public money must serve the public good.
Let’s make procurement a tool for economic justice and a pillar of #SocialEurope.

4/
Public procurement shouldn’t fuel social dumping or reward bad actors.
It must support quality jobs, local economies and climate action.
Let’s shift to a best bidder approach, instead just focus on the lowest price.
#FairWork #GreenTransition

3/
Our key demands:
✅ Make social & environmental criteria mandatory
✅ Enforce fair wages, collective bargaining, & labour rights
✅ Ban companies that abuse workers or evade taxes
✅ Support SMEs & regional supply chains
#WorkersRights #SustainableEU

Towards Fair and Sustainable Public Procurement in Europe EU public procurement rules need fundamental reform to ensure public funds promote fair wages, sustainability, and regional development. Shifting away from the cheapest to the best bidder principle ca...

2/
In our resolution we are calling for a fundamental reform of EU rules to prioritize people and planet over price.

📄 Read CETUN’s full resolution here: www.oegb.at/der-oegb/eur...
🧵👇

🧵1/

🚨 Public procurement = 14% of the EU’s GDP—over €2.4 trillion/year.

Too often, these contracts reward the cheapest bidder, regardless of labour rights, sustainability, or regional development.

That has to change. 🛑

Free belarusian trade union activists! Solidarity action in front of ÖGB. #FreeBelarusUnionists #Unionism_NOT_exstremism

Great to link up with colleagues from the Baltic Sea Trade Union Network (BASTUN) at their meeting in Riga - thanks for the warm welcome, invitation and powerful discussions! 🤝🌱

A powerful reminder of what cross-border trade union cooperation can achieve. Stronger cooperation = stronger voices 📣✊

A just 🌱 transition needs more than climate goals. It needs fair wages, strong workers' rights & real social dialogue.

Across Central Europe, these foundations are threatened. Join us in Vienna to explore how social dialogue can enable a fair transition.
veranstaltung.akwien.at/de/social-di...

In #Munich today a car crashed into a group of @social.verdi.de colleagues demonstrating for better wages. We hope that all injured survive. Our thoughts are with all those directly affected and their families.

The EU Commission has asked the ETUC to endorse the Competitiveness Compass - we cannot do this if it continues to undermine jobs, rights and standards

There is a need to create jobs and competitive companies but it’s not workers and their rights which are the problem

www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...

A highly controversial opinion was submitted to the Court of Justice of the EU today.

⚠️ It calls for the axing of the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive 🤯

"This opinion, if confirmed, would be a huge blow to working people and their trade unions."

www.etuc.org/en/pressrele...

Is this to be viewed in the context of difficulties at Northvolt? amp.theguardian.com/environment/... and will it have an impact on the situation there?

industriAll Europe sounds the alarm on the automotive industry crisis In recent weeks, the automotive industry and its supply chain have been hit by a tsunami of job cut announcements and restructuring.

🆘 🚗 The automotive industry is in crisis and Europe needs to respond quickly.

We need negotiated plans with genuine efforts to look for alternatives to layoffs and, where necessary, to put in place a moratorium on forced redundancies.

news.industriall-europe.eu/Article/1173