Trade Unions

Trade Unions in Europe could be classified into the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) that was founded in 1973 to promote the interests of working people at the European level and to participate in the EU institutions. The ETUC speaks at a single voice on behalf of 82 trade union organizations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.

The ETUC`s prime objective is to work for the development of a united Europe of peace and stability and to foster European Social Model assuring full human and civil rights. This social model embodies a society that combines a sustainable economic growth with living and working standards, full employment, social inclusion and protection, equal opportunities and democratic policy-making processes. The ETUC also believes that workers’ consultation, collective bargaining, social dialogue and good working conditions are key factors to promote innovation, productivity, competitiveness and growth in Europe.

In the Latin American side there exist as well some Trade Unions that are representatives of workers in several industries tending to be concentrated in some specific areas, especially the public sector, with the purpose of improving their economic standards and working conditions through collective bargaining with employers. Despite of the objectives that are quite similar in both contexts, Labor Unions in Latin America do not work in the same way than the European Unions do. Because the State constantly figures in defining the union´s effective environment, their relationships with the state and political leaders sometimes becomes more relevant than their dealings with the employees they represent.