Subscribe here View online Forward through collective bargaining November 2021 Amazon’s public contracts We’ve just released a new report that reveals Amazon received over a billion in taxpayer euros, pounds, Swiss francs and Danish crowns through public contracts in the last year. While the corporation is at the centre of union-busting, tax-dodging and market fixing scandals, it is being allowed to carve itself out a too big to fail role in the provision of services. Last month, we also sent a letter calling on the EU Commission to investigate fresh reports that Amazon was using internal data to replicate products. Across the continent, workers have been taking collective action to push back against Amazon’s abuses. The Make Amazon Pay alliance has laid the foundations for people’s grievances to be relayed strongly within places of power. Black Friday is coming up on 26 November and will mark another important day in our work. Make sure to sign up to UNI’s dedicated newsletter to stay up to date. #MaiPiùFascismi The workers’ movement is uniting in its defence of democracy. UNI Europa’s Oliver Roethig, joined hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in the streets of Rome on 16 October. The mass demonstration was a major show of strength following a far-right attack on the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) headquarters. Defending democracy is core to trade union work. At UNI Europa’s Conference earlier this year, affiliates adopted a resolution to uphold and strengthen democracy. The strong response in Rome and its echoes across Europe were an example of this work in action. Platforms Platforms are increasingly impacting workers in the services sectors. Be it through the platform model itslef being adopted, through algorithmic management being designed in platforms and then adopted more broadly, or through downward pressure on wages and conditions imposed by bogus self-employment, things are heating up. Unions across Europe are responding. We are assisting fresh winds of activism among platform workers and winning court cases at national level. At EU level, a legislative initiative is in the works. UNI Europa joined platform workers and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) outside the EU Commission on World Day for Decent Work. In his message, Oliver Roethig laid out expectations clearly, explaining “a worker is a worker”. In case you missed it Public procurement in Europe must strengthen collective bargaining Insurance multinational Ageas must respect trade union rights State of the EU: what’s new for service workers? Democracy Day: EU leaders must protect democracy at work EU Commission must restore social partner autonomy Eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work New priorities & leadership of ICT sector unions in Europe Joint Statement on Sustainable Corporate Governance Italian unions reach historic national agreement with Amazon Taking stock of the impacts of the pandemic Upcoming events 8-9 November: AI Training Webinar 10 November: Commerce FES Project 2nd Focus Group 12 November: EU Audiovisual Social Dialogue Committee Plenary 15-16 November: AI Training Webinar 16 November: Final Conference “Shaping the Future of Work in a Digitalised Services Industry through Social Dialogue” 17 November: Finance Steering Group Meeting 17 Novemher: Postal Services EU Social Dialogue Committee Plenary 17 November: Capacity building to promote social dialogue in the graphical sector 17 November: Commerce Steering Committee 18 November: AI Training Webinar 23 November: Telecom EU Social Dialogue 24 November: First Tissue Sector Seminar 24 November: Finance Regulation Working Group Meeting 25 November: Finance DG FISMA Consulatation 25 November: Digital Upskilling For All Steering Committee 26 November: Capacity building to promote social dialogue in the graphical sector 30 November: Personal Services (Hair & Beauty) EU Social Dialogue Committee Plenary 2 December: UNI Europa Executive Committee