European Sunday Alliance - GERMANY: Münster residents vote down Sunday shopping

Annual Meeting of the German Sunday Alliance in Düsseldorf

Annual Meeting of the German Sunday Alliance in Düsseldorf

On 25th February 2014, in Dusseldorf, at Ver.di headquarters, the German Sunday Alliance held its Annual meeting aiming at taking stock of campaigns in the different federal states and regional alliances with a view to protect a work-free Sunday and to defend the right for German workers and citizens to enjoy a common day of rest with family and friends.

unknown Although Germany is the country where there is more rigid legislation as regards, for instance, shop opening hours on Sundays, late evenings and holidays, and has one of the most favorable working time regulation for commerce workers, many differences exist in the various German Federal States. This is the case, in particular, for those regions that have borders with other countries where opening on Sundays is subject to less stringent rules.

The European Sunday Alliance was invited to give a speech on the most recent European initiatives to protect a work-free Sunday. In particular, Laila Castaldo, UNI Europa Policy Officer for Commerce, spoke about the possible legal avenues to recognize Sunday as a common day of rest in the EU and the status of the revision of the European working time directive now that negotiations between social partners at European level have failed. Susanne Herkommer from the Brussels Office of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) and Anna Echterhoff from the Secretariat of the European Sunday Alliance reported on the recent European conference on “work-free Sunday and decent jobs” and presented the pledge. The pledge was then signed by candidates to the European Parliament Election who were present at the annual meeting.

The day was also marked by a symbolic action. Participants drew a graffiti on the street in front of the conference venue asking “Freedom for Sunday”.

The 3rd of March will be the European Action day for a work-free Sunday and in many towns in Germany demonstrations will mark the day.

Further information can be found on the ver.di webpage: https://handel.verdi.de/news/zeitkonferenz-der-allianz-fuer-den-freien-s...

Or on the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sonntagsallianz.bayern

New Member organisation

The European Sunday Alliance welcomes a new member from the Netherlands!

The European Sunday Alliance is happy to inform you that as of today, the RMU – de Reformatorisch Maatschappelijke Unie – has joined the Alliance.

This Dutch organization defends the interests of employers, employees and the self-employed and is as such both a Union and an employers’ organization. It provides its members with information, judicial advice and help with negotiations. The RMU is a strong supporter of the work-free Sunday and we are therefore thankful that they have chosen to join us.

European Day for a work-free Sunday on 3 March 2014

European Day for a work-free Sunday on 3 March 2014

Pledge for a work-free Sunday

The European Sunday Alliance calls on all it’s Members and Supporters to support the Campaign

“Pledge for a work-free Sunday and decent work ahead of the European elections 2014”

A work-free Sunday and decent working hours are of paramount importance for citizens and workers throughout Europe and are not necessarily in conflict with economic competitiveness.

Especially in the present time of socio-economic crisis, the adoption of legislation extending working hours to late evenings, nights, bank holidays and Sundays has direct consequences for the working conditions of employees and for small and medium sized enterprises. Competitiveness needs innovation, innovation needs creativity and creativity needs recreation!

CONFRERENCE on Work-free Sundays and Decent Work

The objective of this conference is to highlight the paramount importance a work-free Sunday and decent working hours for citizens throughout Europe and is not necessarily to be set against economic competitiveness. All people in the European Union should be entitled to benefit from work-free Sundays and decent working hours. Read more and register

Campaign “LIBERA LA DOMENICA”

New Campaign “LIBERA LA DOMENICA”

Confesercenti and Federstrade Roma e Provincia with the support of the Italian Bishops’ Conference have launched the Campaign “LIBERA LA DOMENICA”. They are supported by the members of the European Sunday Alliance Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl, UILTuCS and by the Archbishop of Campobasso-Bojano, Mgr. Bregantini, as well as by many civil society organisations. Of particular interest is the fact that the campaign is supported by four Italian regions, namely: Piemont, Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Toscana!

The objective of the Campaign “LIBERA LA DOMENICA” is to collect signatures for a law changing the current extent of liberalization of shop opening hours.

The European Sunday Alliance wishes every success for this campaign and calls on all its Italian members and supporters to support “LIBERA LA DOMENICA”!

More information is provided in a booklet or is available (in Italian only) at: http://www.liberaladomenica.it/.

COMMERCIOATTIVO joins the European Sunday Alliance!

Welcome to COMMERCIOATTIVO – our new member from Italy!

unknown COMMERCIOATTIVO is an association of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Its principal objective is to raise awareness of the added value of the local economy, with particular regard to traditional neighbourhood business activities and public shops, in the context of the historical-cultural, environmental and social identities, by means of initiatives that promote the natural commercial centres of the city of Campobasso and its Province. It represents and protects commercial and artisanal businesses, entrepreneurs in general, artists, and relevant associated bodies, in their relations with public and private institutions, with the public administration and with economic and social organisations, at the local, national, European and international level. It organises study seminars, researches, conferences on economic and social themes of general interest. It promotes initiatives aimed at affirming policies in favour of enterprises. For more information: http://commercioattivo.blogspot.be/.