Monks to preside over major changes at ETUC

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will hold its congress in Prague later this month. The organisation faces new challenges linked to the eastward expansion of the European Union and also a change in leadership as current TUC leader John Monks takes over as general secretary.

The ETUC congress in Prague is the 10th since the ETUC was founded in 1973. In recent years it has expanded from its initial base in Western Europe and now has 78 national trade union confederations affiliated from 34 European countries, including, for example, six from Hungary.

The inclusion of 10 new states, mostly from central and eastern Europe, in the European Union from May next year is likely to be one of the major tests faced by the ETUC in the near future. With living standards below those of the current EU and generally low levels of union organisation, there are fears that the existing employment standards and industrial relations practices could be threatened. Strengthening union organisation in these countries is already a key priority for the ETUC.

The leadership of the ETUC is also changing. As well as a new general secretary - John Monks takes over from Emilio Gabaglio, who has been in office for 12 years - almost all the other figures at the top are leaving. The new team will certainly have plenty on its plate.