On May 25th, at the congress of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) held in Berlin, Inga Ruginienė, the Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK), was elected as the Vice President of the organization.

“This is a recognition not only for me but for the entire labour movement in Lithuania, and it shows that our work is seen and appreciated. It symbolizes the beginning of a new era for trade unions in Lithuania – our voice in the international arena will be heard even more and this will hopefully lead to more positive changes. ETUC is a strong organization with significant contributions in the social and economic spheres, so it is an honour for me to be part of its leadership team,” commented Inga Ruginienė.

The congress is the most important event of the organization, taking place every four years. This year‘s congress is special as it marks the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the ETUC. During the week-long congress held in Berlin, a multitude of distinguished guests attended and delivered speeches, including notable figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, Hubertus Heil, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Germany, Nicolas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights.

The European Trade Union Confederation is the most influential center for trade unions in Europe. It represents 45 million members from 93 trade union organizations in 41 countries and 10 sectoral European trade union federations.

This is the first time a representative from Lithuania has held such a high position in the European labour movement.