Action planned across Europe

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is planning for a European day of action in April to push for more social rights in the EU. It is the first time the ETUC has called for co-ordinated action in each member state since 1992.

The dates chosen, 2 and 3 April, come shortly before the enlargement of the EU in May, when 10 new countries will join, and the elections to the European Parliament in June.

The intention is that each national confederation affiliated to the ETUC (in Britain it is the TUC) should organise its own national event. And with the dates chosen falling on Friday and Saturday they can choose whether to call the action during a working day or at the weekend.

ETUC general secretary John Monks told Labour Research the aim was to "send the signal that we need a Europe with a strong social dimension, and not a drift towards the American model."