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The UNI Europa Graphical and Packaging Sector on 21 October adopted the below declaration in support of Austrian and Italian trade unions in their fight for new collective agreements.

Read the full text here:

DECLARATION OF UNI EUROPA GRAPHICAL IN SUPPORT OF OUR AUSTRIAN AND ITALIAN COLLEAGUES IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR NEW COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

The UNI Europa Graphical collective bargaining conference, which is taking place in Berlin, gathering the graphical trade unions from 15 different countries, is deeply concerned by the situation the collective bargaining negotiation processes of the Austrian and Italian colleagues.

We understand as a result of a change in the status of Austria’s employers association, the national agreement for the printing sector will no longer exist.

In addition, as a consequence of the harsh approach by employers in Italy, no negotiations have ever taken place for the renewal of the national agreement.

The conference condemns these approaches in the strongest possible terms and calls on the employer organisations to reconsider their positions and to sit together with the trade union organisation in order to open a discussion on the way forward together.

In the situation that Europa is currently in, with increasing insecurity and precarious work, fuelling a raise in xenophobia, racism and populism, it is completely outrageous and irresponsible for employer organisations to seek to further worsen workers living standards for their own profit.

UNI EG and all its affiliates stand shoulder to shoulder with our Italian and Austrian colleagues and we will offer all practical support possible for their actions to come to an agreement with the employer organisation in their countries. Any new agreements must guarantee fair and decent working conditions.

Berlin, 21 October 2016