The European Court of Justice ruled in favour of  workers in the Joint Cases Schulze-Hoff versus Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund und Stringer and Others versus Her Majesty´s Revenue and Customs. In its judgement issued on the 20th January 2009, the Court of Justice of the European Community interprets the entitlement to paid annual leave protected by the working time directive, ruling that a worker does not lose his right to paid annual leave which he has been unable to exercise because of sickness and must therefore be compensated for his annual leave not taken.

The CESI´s General Secretary, Helmut Müllers, highly welcomes this change of course in the EC judgement towards a more worker- friendly judgement: 

“Following the very unsatisfactory ruling in the cases Laval, Viking and Rüttgers the latest European Court of Justice ruling marks a change towards a more social orientated judgement; apt to regain the trust of workers and highly welcomed by trade unions throughout Europe. Working to strengthen Europe’s Social Dimension this judgement presents a stepping stone on our way. “

Helmut Müllers, CESI General Secretary

CESI is the mouthpiece for nine million workers in the public and private sector. Founded in 1955 as a European umbrella organisation bringing together independent and free trade unions with affiliates in more than 25 European Union Member States, it is recognised by the European Commission as a social partner. 

For further information:     Nina Lucia Potzeldt         Tel. : +32 (0)2 282 1870
E-mail: potzeldt@cesi.org    Internet: www.cesi.org        Fax: +32 (0)2 282 1871