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On Tuesday, May 5th, colleagues from our UNI Europa offices stood outside the European Parliament to ask the European MEP's to take action in order to save the proposal for a revised maternity leave, bringing maternity leave up to 18 weeks, the standard of the UN International Labour Organisation.

The proposal has been on the table since 2008, but no agreement has been reached – putting the proposal at threat of being withdrawn by the European Commission which has described it as “red tape”. 

‘This Directive is needed to improve women’s rights and economic independence, and far greater gender equality across the EU. It would have a positive effect on and be a direct benefit to millions of families across Europe. It too would send a positive message to people across Europe that the EU is committed to a more social and fair Europe’ said Veronica Fernandez Mendez, Equal Opportunities Officer at UNI Global Union. ‘The threat to remove the Maternity Leave Directive from the legislative process is serious as it contradicts Europe’s claims to its commitment to gender equality and effective work-life balance for women and men in Europe’ she added.

Since early morning UNI Europa colleagues engaged officials, MEP's and public in general and asked them to take a clear stand against the withdrawal of the Directive. Furthermore, the campaign Save the Maternity Leave has been launched by UNI Global Union and UNI Europa to call upon all our European affiliated unions to ask of their national MEP's and Ministers to help break the deadlock by setting up a designated Working Group in order to resume negotiations. 

Act now and help us spread the word using our material and the hashtag #SaveMaternityLeave. Together we can!