News

As the crisis deepens and evidently no longer will be a passing phenomenon too little attention have been given to consequences of the crisis for the commerce sector. The first two months of 2009 showed a rapid increase in unemployment across Europe and across sectors and already now an impact on the purchasing power of consumers is showing affecting working conditions of workers in the commerce sector. As the commerce sector employs more than 30 million people European decision makers must take the concerns of the sector into consideration when policies on solving the crisis are being made. This is the strong message expressed by the UNI Europa commerce steering committee held on 5 and 6TH of March 2009 in Brussels.



Bankruptcy of small and big retail businesses, cut in working hours, lack of implementation of agreements on wage increases or employers’ refusals to initiate collective agreement negotiation, investment cuts, more precarious jobs are some of the first tremors felt by the trade unions in the sector.



As a first step, UNI europa commerce adopted on 18th December 2008, together with its employer counterpart EuroCommerce, a joint statement raising awareness of European institutions on this issue. The joint statement expresses the deep concern of the social partners about the consequences of the lack of available credit and recommends that future investments should be aimed at boosting employment (Full text attached).

UNI Europa commerce maintains that even in these times of economic uncertainty social dialogue remains a key tool to find a way for recovery both at national and European level.



In addition, European commerce trade unions will continue to act together to promote quality employment as a solution to face the crisis. UNI europa commerce will take all necessary steps to ensure a solidarity of action within the sector to oppose unjustified austerity plans and any attempt to

put collective bargaining aside.