(24 November, Brussels) At its last Executive Committee on 13/14 October 2010, the ETUC agreed to continue its campaign No to Austerity that started with the successful demonstration in Brussels 29 September. It decided on several points: a bonus watch, an austerity monitor and to organise decentralised actions before the end of the year. The EPSU Executive Committee meeting on 8-9 November decided to support these actions proposed by the ETUC. EPSU will be organising a protest outside the (...)

(7 December) The European Parliament on 26 November asked the Commission to include clauses on human rights, social rights and environment standards in international trade agreements. This was the outcome of an Initiative report by the EP. The proposal to introduce legally binding social, environmental and human right clauses is highly welcome from the trade unions. In the light of the current situation in Colombia, where trade unionists are on a daily threat, we call the European (...)

(7 November 2010) The European Federation of Public Sector Unions (ESPU) wants to send a warn message of solidarity on the eve of an important strike action in the Czech Republic. There are many reasons to strike, but this time there are two main reasons, workers in the healthcare and social services want to express their disagreement with cuts in their pay for the work that is demanded, which is both financially and socially undervalued. The trade unions also want to make citizens in (...)

(7 December 2010) Petition ratification UN Convention migrant workers European Parliament’s vote Directive single permit and rights for third country citizens Dear affiliates, The fundamental rights of migrant workers in the EU remain top of the trade union agenda. Firstly, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Migrant Workers Convention [International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, adopted on 18 December (...)

(6 December 2010) The European Federation of Public Services Union (EPSU) organises a Press conference on Tuesday 7 December 2010 at 13.15h at the International Trade Union House (ITUH, Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5 in Brussels) as the ECOFIN ministers will be meeting in the European Quarter. The Press conference is organised to present a report commissioned by EPSU to the Labour Research Department to look at the effect of the cuts to public sector workers in Europe. The study is a unique (...)

(6 December) On 30 November EPSU received a group of our members from our Finnish affiliate JHL. The group composed by 25 trade unionists from all sector visited EPSU offices in the morning for a presentation about the work of the Federation in the Local and Regional Government sector. The lively debate help EPSU secretariat to understand to situation of JHL and the Finnish unions and also to explain what are the EPSU priorities as well as our current “against austerity campaign”. The (...)

(1 December, Brussels) The European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU) will mobilize together with the European Trade Union Confederation on 15 December. EPSU will continue with the “No to Austerity” campaign that started with the successful demonstration in Brussels 29 September. EPSU will be organising a protest outside the two main European Union institutions: European Council and the Commission on the eve of the last Council of the EU on 15 December. The action is to defend the (...)

(23 November 2010) The European Federarion of Public Services Unions participate in the gathering around the European Parliament organised by the European anti-poverty network (EAPN) The 2010 Coalition of Social NGOs called on everyone to join and form a Human Ring around the European Parliament on 19 November, at noon. Taking the form of a citizens’ flashmob, this event demanded a credible response to the crisis and reclaims the European Institutions as People’s institutions. According to (...)

(29 Novembre Brussels) On Friday 26 Novembrer à delegation all the way from Australia visited EPSU headquarters to discuss the situation in Europe and in Australia of public services. The delegation headed by Michael Flinn, Deputy Secretary of Australia Services Union (ASU),an affiliated member of PSI, explained the current challenges facing public sector workers in Australia. At the same time Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary, made an introduction about the current situation (...)

(1st December 2010) Based on a survey of energy company CSR-reports the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) concludes that the forth coming workforce gap takes a worrying dimension. It urges the Council of Ministers of Energy (that is meeting this 2nd and 3rd December) to address this issue. The survey published by EPSU [see the attachement below] examines the indicators on workforce age and coming retirements in energy companies’ ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ reports. (...)

(28 November 2010) EPSU supports a hearing on human rights in Colombia, where the civil war continues and human rights abuses occur on a virtually daily basis. Trade unionists are among the target groups for regular assassinations, while the perpetrators continue to enjoy almost complete impunity. The European Union is looking to award Colombia with a free trade agreement. At the Human rights in Colombia: Hear for yourself hearing civil society leaders from Colombia and European members (...)

(29 November 2010) The MEPS stress the “importance of skilled and qualified workers in gas and electricity sector.” The Parliament asks the Commission to examine in consultation with the social partners concerned how to address and encourage vocational education and training.”. The position echoes the attention the social partners for gas and for [electricity art6929] have been asking in their joint contributions to the Commission consultation on the European energy policy 2020. EPSU has (...)

(26 November 2010, Brussels) Tomorrow the Irish Congress of Trade unions has called for a national march in Dublin with the slogan: "There is a better fairer way" to protest against the EU-IMF austerity plan. All Irish EPSU affiliates are supporting the call of the ICTU and therefore EPSU is sending a warm message of solidarity to the Irish citizens in general, and workers in particular, that will be marching tomorrow in Dublin. For more info about the march, please visit the ICTU website (...)

(25 November, Brussels). The Italian CGIL has called for a national demonstration this Saturday 27 November for “The future of our youth and work”. The march demands more rights and more democracy. It also demands more equality and Justice to get out of the crisis. Another aspect of the march is to denounce the terrible living and working condition in which many migrant workers find themselves into. EPSU welcomes the initiative of one of its Italians affiliates and wishes a good (...)

(23 November 2010, Brussels) Tomorrow Portugal will witness a 24 hour General Strike against the Government policies and the impact that those policies have on the workers. The General Strike is a unitarian action of all Portuguese trade unions. The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) sends a warm message of solidarity to the workers that will be tomorrow on the picket lines from our affiliated unions (SINTAP, STAL and STE). This General strike continues the wave of (...)

(23 Novembre 2010, Bruxelles) Une fois de plus la Fédération Syndicale Européenne des Services Publics (FSESP) suit avec attention les manifestations qui se déroulent en France. Cette lutte contre les plans injustes et indécents du Gouvernement Sarkozy, qui veut faire payer aux générations futures les conséquences de cette crise économique sans écouter les propositions des syndicats, est encore vivante, et nous soutenons nos affiliés qui vont manifester, avec plus de 200 rassemblements en France. (...)

The Executive Board of Public Services International is appalled and deeply saddened to learn of the killing of Brother Carlo “Caloy” Rodriguez on 12 November 2010. At about 5.30 on the afternoon of 12 November, an unidentified assailant, reportedly riding in tandem on a motorcycle, shot Brother Caloy four times: twice in the back, once in the arm and once in the neck. Brother Carlo “Caloy Rodriguez” was the President of the Water District Union, an affiliate of the Confederation for Unity, (...)

(23 November 2010) EPSU’s global federation PSI (Public Services International) together with other global trade union federations agreed a common text in which GdfSuez commits to respect basic trade union rights. The agreement was the work of several months of discussion and negotiations. Read here the the press release of PSI Press release of GdF Suez PR Global agreement - EN PR Global agreement - FR PR Global agreement - NL Global agreement on fundamental rights, social (...)

(23 November 2010) The European Federation of Public Service Union (EPSU) together with several other trade unions and civil society organisations (GMB, UNISON, EMF, EFFAT, EFBWW, Solidar, FLO, The Fair Trade Advocacy Office, EFTA, WFTO, FERN and Client Earth) sent a letter to Commissioner Barnier with its initial contribution to the evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of EU procurement legislation and policy. Read the letter below. The initial input focuses on concerns that the (...)

(23 November, Brussels). Here you can read the letter sent by EPSU together with other trade unions and civil society organisation on Public procurement, as well as the report on the Evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of EU procurement legislation and policy. Commissioner Barnier DG Internal Market and Services European Commission B-1049 Brussels Belgium 19th November 2010 Dear Commissioner Barnier, Evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of EU Procurement legislation and (...)