European Essential Workers Rally in Brussels Demanding Reform for Fair Wages and Conditions

Brussels, Belgium – In a significant demonstration for workers’ rights, approximately 1,000 essential workers from nine European countries gathered in Brussels on October 1, 2024.

The rally aimed to press European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to enhance pay and working conditions for millions of employees through much-needed procurement reforms.

The diverse group, including cleaners, security guards, and food service employees, was joined by trade union leaders and members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Together, they condemned the “race to the bottom” driven by current EU procurement rules, which prioritize the lowest bidding price over the well-being of workers.

“My job is very important for the safety of the people. But my salary is far too low for the cost of living,” said Youssef B., a security worker.

“What I want is to be able to offer the best service to my customers and have a decent life for myself and my family. So the rules at the European level need to change, so that my colleagues and I can finally get good working conditions.”

His sentiment echoed throughout the rally as workers called for immediate change in the EU’s procurement policies.

Commission’s Commitment

President Ursula von der Leyen has previously pledged to revise the EU Public Procurement Directive, a task entrusted to Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné.

However, union leaders and workers argue that change must happen swiftly and meaningfully to address the current injustices faced by essential workers across the continent.

Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of the trade union federation UNI Europa, emphasized the widespread nature of the issue.

“We know from essential workers about the pervasive low wages and social precarity created by the EU’s current procurement rules. These problems are the same everywhere across Europe. They are caused by bad EU regulation and therefore need an EU-wide solution,” he stated.

Roethig called for immediate reform of public procurement rules, insisting that “Europe deserves better than a race for the cheapest price.”

He argued that workers deserve “wages with dignity, safe and secure jobs,” and urged von der Leyen to fulfill her promise of quality jobs and fair conditions.

Essential Workers Recognized

The rally’s message was reinforced by MEP Kim van Sparrentak, a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (Greens).

She noted that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the contributions of cleaners, construction workers, and security personnel, whom she referred to as the “truly essential workers” of society.

“They too often are not getting what they deserve. This ‘Stop the Race to the Bottom’ demonstration is a strong call to action not to miss the opportunity of the announced revision of the EU rulebook on procurement,” van Sparrentak emphasized.

The rally followed an open letter signed by over 100 prominent economists, including notable figures like Thomas Piketty and Isabella Weber, advocating for reform in EU public procurement rules.

The economists urged for changes that would bolster collective bargaining and improve working conditions in labor-intensive sectors, such as cleaning, security, and food services.

Economic Implications

The letter from the economists pointed out that the current procurement practices—focused predominantly on the lowest price—create conditions that allow bidders to neglect social criteria.

“Current procurement practices—with their dominant focus on the lowest price in tenders—create market conditions that allow bidders to disregard social criteria,” they stated.

This marginalization of labor rights and fair working conditions has contributed to the deterioration of essential worker livelihoods across Europe.

Contract catering worker Najib M., who has spent over 20 years in the European Parliament, shared his personal struggles at the rally.

“Over the course of my 20-year career in the European Parliament, I have worked for 11 different bosses, changing employer every four years,” he lamented.

“Today, I am taking to the streets because my future is uncertain. We need stability and fairness, not a constant race to the bottom.”

The Call for Change

Research conducted by UNI Europa indicates that nearly half of all public tenders across the EU are awarded solely based on the lowest price, a practice attributed largely to current procurement rules.

Li Andersson, MEP and chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (The Left), criticized the notion of “competitiveness” becoming a euphemism for low wages and poor working conditions.

“Competitiveness cannot turn into a euphemism for low wages and unfair working conditions,” Andersson asserted. She highlighted the need for rules that reflect the true costs of labor and support the well-being of workers.

The existing procurement framework not only undermines von der Leyen’s promises for quality jobs and services but also fails to increase collective bargaining coverage.

Enrico Somaglia, Deputy Secretary General of the European Federation of Trade Unions in the Food, Agriculture and Tourism (EFFAT), denounced the current situation.

“It is outrageous that public contracts funded by taxpayers continue to be awarded based solely on the lowest price in this day and age,” he remarked.

The Future of Workers’ Rights in Europe

As the rally concluded, the essential workers reiterated their demands for reforms that prioritize fair wages and improved working conditions.

They urged President von der Leyen and EU leaders to act swiftly to ensure that the voices of essential workers are heard and that their rights are protected.

The call for reform in public procurement rules represents a crucial moment for the future of labor rights across Europe. Workers are hopeful that the current momentum will lead to meaningful changes that recognize their contributions and ensure their livelihoods are secure.

The voices of the workers in Brussels resonate not just in Belgium but across Europe, highlighting a collective struggle for dignity, fair wages, and a future that values the essential contributions of all workers.

As the EU prepares to discuss procurement reforms, the outcome will significantly impact millions of workers striving for a better quality of life in an increasingly challenging economic landscape.

 

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