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Collective bargaining and minimum wages in the EU
The European Commission has announced that it will take an initiative to create an EU framework for minimum wages and the right to collective bargaining. The ETUC wants “to engage robustly” with the European Commission on this issue. The discussion on the possible legal instrument has created, however, several concerns. Some are concerned about a possible negative impact on national collective bargaining systems, while others are concerned that the instrument could not be strong enough to have a real impact. The EFBWW and the other European industry federations (ETUFs) have adopted a careful approach in this debate, on the one hand not wanting to interfere directly in an ETUC debate, but on the other hand pushing for a position that would be based on consensus.
As an absolute priority in all discussions and (possible) negotiations, the EFBWW will put an emphasis on the strengthening of trade unions and autonomous sectoral collective bargaining for good wages.