ETUC plans Rome demo

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is planning a demonstration in Rome next month to coincide with the start of detailed negotiations at an intergovernmental conference on a new constitution for the European Union.

The demonstration on 4 October is, in the words of ETUC general secretary John Monks, intended to ensure that "the public voice of working people (is) heard powerfully and persuasively".

The ETUC wants the conference to give a greater role to social issues in the constitution. In particular it supports the binding inclusion in the constitution of the charter of fundamental rights, which has already been agreed at EU level, although as a non-binding document.

The charter expressly provides for the right of workers "to negotiate and conclude collective agreements" and, "to take collective action to defend their interests, including strike action".