European Sunday Alliance - CALL FOR ACTION !

CALL FOR ACTION !

4 march 2012: European Day for a Work free Sunday !

The European Sunday Alliance calls on all members and supporters to take action on Sunday, 4 March 2012, as the EUROPEAN DAY FOR A WORK-FREE SUNDAY.

Download the call in German, French, English, Italian, polish

In times of financial and economic crisis when more and more social and employment rights are coming under pressure, the work-free Sunday is a clear and visible demonstration that the people and our societies are not dependent solely on work and the economy.

We believe that all citizens of the European Union are entitled to benefit from decent working hours that, as a matter of principle, exclude working late evenings, nights, public holidays and Sundays. Only essential services should operate on Sundays.

Today, legislation and practices now in place at EU and Member State levels need to be more protective of the health, safety and dignity of everyone and should more assertively promote the reconciliation of professional and family life. We believe that social cohesion in European citizenship should be reinforced.

Therefore, the Alliance calls on members, supporters and all citizens to make our common demand visible on Sunday, 4 March 2012!

There are Sunday Alliances in some EU Member States, which have had this tradition for a number of years. Whatever actions or political discussions you wish to organise will be up to each organisation to decide. The visibility of this special Sunday will not depend only on one ‘big event’ but also on innovative ideas and projects reflecting the local and regional culture and European traditions. And this idea of a European Day on a work-free Sunday can grow from one year to the next.

For more ideas on possible actions, please see for example: www.allianz-fuer-den-freien-sonntag.de and http://www.sonntagsallianz-bayern.de.

To make our common mission as visible as possible, please let us know what you are planning and send us a photo or a video on your action. We will publish it on our website!

COMECE Bishops' Declaration on Social market Economy defends Sunday

12 january 2012

unknown In their declaration on Social Market Economy, published on 12 January, the COMECE Bishops call for the protection of work-free sundays in the EU:

"Today, our task lies in protecting ourselves from a scenario where the market and its inner logic manage to encroach on all areas of life and hold them captive. There are shared and qualitative needs which cannot be satisfied by the market, particularly in relation to the family. This is why it is the task of government to provide guaranteed market-free times and living spaces where people can search for ways to meet these needs.17 It is right that market activity is restricted on official public holidays and Sundays, because on those days, for national, cultural or religious reasons, peace and quiet and time to collect one’s thoughts take precedence over economic activities."

The Declaration is available in English, French and German at www.comece.eu

Longer Working hours impact Health, says German federal Institute

unknown The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) published a study conducted by

Mrs Anna Wirtz on the impact of longer working hours on health and Safety of Workers. The study shows a clear impact on Worker's health and safety. Read more

"Time Conference" of the German Sunday alliance

15 February 2012

unknown The 4th national Time Conference of the German Sunday Alliance will gather on the topic " Sunday is our right". The Conference will unveil new legal tools for sunday protection, new action possibilities and will offer an occasion to exchange with crucial supporters and partner organisations. All active supporters and friends of Sunday protection are cordially invited. Read more

International Christian Union of Business Executives becomes Member

unknown we are happy to welcome among our members the Employer's association UNIAPAC. The International Christian Union of Business Executives is a federation of associations, an international meeting place for Christian Business Leaders. Its goal is to promote, in the light of the Christian Social Teachings, a vision and a deployment of Corporate Social Responsibility serving people and the common good of the World.

New figures on the raise of Sunday work in Germany between 1995-2010

Download the PDF file

unknown

German Olympic Sports Confederation joins the European Sunday alliance

8 November 2011

unknown We have the pleasure of welcoming the German Olympic Confederation as one of our new members. The German Olympic Sports Confederation ('Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund', DOSB) is the non-governmental umbrella organization of German sport. It was founded on May 20, 2006, resulting from the merger of the German Sports Confederation (DSB) and the National Olympic Committee for Germany. The DOSB stands for performance, health, joy of living and the conveyance of values.