We are pleased to invite you to participate in the EPSU/ETUI-REHS/SALTSA Workshop and Conference on developments relating to public services, on 19 and 20 November in Brussels. Both events will take place at the International Trade Union House (ITUH), 5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels.

Attached you will find:

 A background giving details of the joint initiative
 A draft programme for the workshop on 19 November
 A draft programme for the Conference on 20 November
 A registration form

The aim of the workshops and conference is to discuss the vital economic and social contribution of public services, challenge assumptions underlying current EU policies and identify research questions that need to be covered in future research programmes.

Practical details

The workshops and conference are open to all.

The workshops will be in English only, but for the Conference interpretation is available from and to English, French, German, Swedish, and Spanish. Italian is provided as a passive language.

EPSU expects participants to cover the travel and accommodation expenses of their participants. However, EPSU will provide support to a limited number of participants from affiliated unions (at least one per country, and on a first-come, first-served basis) according to the Rules Governing Financial Assistance in EPSU Conferences.

Please note that we do not make hotel bookings for participants and cannot help you with your travel requests. You can get preferential tariffs via the following weblink:
http://www.hotelclub.net.

Please return the enclosed registration form to the ETUI-REHS Secretariat by 31 October 2007 at the latest. Thank you.

If you have any questions regarding the programme, please contact Janine Leschke (ETUI-REHS) or Penny Clarke (EPSU).

 Programme for the workshop on 19 November:

Programme 19 November

 Programme for the Conference on 20 November:

Programme 20 November

 Registration form + financial rules:

registration form

rules - EN

 Background note (in English and French)

background note

note de fond

Pre-conference announcement

We are pleased to inform you about an EPSU/ETUI-REHS/SALTSA research initiative on developments relating to public services. The initiative comprises of a series of elements:

 Collecting new research papers on four major themes relevant to public services: the drivers of privatisation; the impact of the EU polices on public services; the effects of privatisation on employment; and the role of public services as a counterbalance to marketisation. These themes are outlined in the “call for papers” (see attached) that has been sent out to a wide range of academics.

 Organising a number of parallel workshops on 19 November 2007 to discuss a selection of the papers received. A Scientific Committee (made up of EPSU, ETUI- REHS and several established public service research networks) will select the papers to be presented and discussed in workshops. The Scientific Committee will also arrange for the publication of papers after the workshops in the ETUI-REHS “Transfer” and CIRIEC’s “Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics”.

 Presenting and discussing the results of the workshops at a Conference on 20 November 2007. The Conference will be organised in a format that will encourage debate between academics and trade unions. A number of well-known academics will also be invited to the Conference to make presentations linked to the four workshop themes, and the Conference will close with a panel debate with EU policy makers.

The aim of the joint initiative is to give visibility to the vital economic and social contribution of public services, challenge assumptions underlying current EU policies and identify research questions that need to be covered in future research programmes.

Both the workshops on the 19th November and the Conference on the 20th November will take place in the International Trade Union House (ITUH), 5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels.

Interpretation will be provided during the Conference in English, French and Spanish (with a number of passive languages to be confirmed). The workshops will be English- speaking only.

There is no need to reply to this note. The invitation, programme and further practical details will be sent out shortly.

version Française

Call for papers

The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) comprises 8 million public service workers from over 200 Public Service Unions in 36 countries. It organises workers in health and social services, local and national administration, energy, water and waste.

SALTSA is a research programme run by LO- TCO-SACO Sweden and the former National Institute for Working Life. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate problem-oriented research collaboration on issues related to working life in Europe.