Under the motto ”Better Regulation - it really isn’t”, the European trade union federation (UNI Europa) together with other organisations, such as ETUC, EFFAT, IndustriALL Europa, EPSU, ETF Europa, CSEE-ETUCE, EFBWW and IFJ has launched a campaign, which shall show how the EU blocks important social legislation.

The first example concerns health and safety of hairdressers:

• They develop ten times more frequently dermatosis and 5 times more at risk to develop respiratory diseases such as arthritis and tendinitis,
• 20 % of all hairdressers develop work-related asthma and
• They are regularly exposed to chemicals, which probably cause cancer.

In addition, these problems, combined with times absent and an early exit from the sector, cost Europeans, based on an increased requirement of social security, healthcare and finally a complete retraining of hairdressers millions of euros.

For four years, the Commission has refused to accept an agreement on the social dialogue, which concerns the protection of health and safety of hundreds of thousands of hairdressers. “The health and safety of hairdressers is not a 'bagatelle' – they are exposed to a high risk of developing dermatosis, respiratory diseases and occupational asthma”, declared Oliver Roethig, Regional Secretary of UNI Europa.

Stops of public transport all over Brussels, in particular around Berlaymont, have been fitted with posters and a campaign website, www.notbetter.eu, has been started.

For further information, please contact:

Elke Zander, Communications Officer, UNI Europa

Tel.: +32 2 234 56 48

E-Mail: elke.zander@uniglobalunion.org