EU – Baltic States, Labour Unions, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Strike

The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia held a rally at the Cabinet building "in support of social justice and against poverty" to emphasize the importance of respectful living and working conditions in Latvia.

Demonstrators arrived from various regions of Latvia, and represented various local trade unions, including medics, education workers, as well as from the troubled joint-stock metallurgical company Liepajas metalurgs. The rally participants were holding posters with various slogans on them urging the government to ensure better conditions for the workforce, increase in pensions, as well as for the state to take better care of the country's medics, as persons will not be healthy all their lives.

The rally was also addressed by European Trade Union Confederation Deputy Secretary General Patrick Itschert, who said that the price of austerity has been too high, and urged the government to take a look at the consequences of the country's austerity – low wages, poverty and unemployment.

As reported, during the rally, which took place from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m., the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia will demanded just and commensurate tax policy, support for new jobs, youth employment guarantees, respect towards collective agreements and social dialogue, as well as safe labor rights.

The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia has also launched a signature drive against changes to the Labor Law.