(27 October 2011, Bucharest) On October 18 and 19 the European Federation of Public Service Unions held its annual sectoral conference; this year, the issue at stake was Health, soon there will be full reports and minutes of the event but readers can start with the audio documents that we collected in partnership with Radio Labour. We would like to thank them for their collaboration. Radio Labour audio files Read also our press (...)

Media Advisory (27 October 2011) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), the Austrian trade union federation (OGB) office in Brussels and organisations of the Canadian civil society organise a press conference to present the study “Public services in bilateral free trade agreements of the EU” carried out by Professor Markus Krajewski, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. The study examines the possible implications of proposed changes in the way public services are dealt with (...)

(26 October 2011) Along with the Congress ETUC organised a conference for European Works Councils (EWC’s) on 16-17 May this year. The conference was attended by around 120 representatives from EWC’s from all the different sectors and unions. It showed the huge variety of companies that trade unions and workers representatives are dealing with, all with their own characteristics. It also showed a wide variety of issues that EWC’s are dealing with and different ways of working that EWC’s have (...)

(26 October 2011) On 10 October the Network made up of trade unions and social and environmental NGOs organised a workshop to take stock of the upcoming revision Sara Piller, European Commission (EC) gave an overview of the background to the revision of the public procurement Directives. She confirmed the EC intention to present proposals in December 2011. The EC has two main aims for the revision: simplification and strengthening possibilities for public authorities to pursue ‘horizontal’ (...)

(26 October 2011) The ETUC and its affiliates are consulting on the mandate of the ETUC concerning the negotiations on changes to the Working time directive. EPSU has sent out the mandate to the Executive Committee members requesting a response 3 November. The Executive Committee will consider this during its meeting 8-9 November. EPSU has adopted several positions on the Working Time Directive. We have also been actively engaged with the European Parliament. For a overview of our work (...)

(25 October 2011) The European Federation of Public Services (EPSU) is moved by the images of the earthquake that shook the Eastern part of Turkey. The eastern city of Van was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Sunday, 23 October. At this moment more than 270 people have been reported dead and more than a thousand people are injured in the quake. The search and rescue operations are going on and there is a concern about death toll rise, in this moment we send a warm solidarity message (...)

(Press communication – 24 October 2011) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) and the Employers Platform of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR-EP) met on 21 October for the Sectoral Social Dialogue Meeting Local and Regional Government to update their joint analysis on the impact and consequences of austerity measures on the public service in local and regional government. Municipal employers and trade unions both are deeply concerned about the (...)

(24 October 2011) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) notes the overwhelming support the actions of the Greek trade unions had on 19 and 20 October. It sends a strong message by the Greek people to the European Troika and their government about the Greek people’s struggle to stop the blind austerity that is taking a huge toll on Greek society. The Troika’s interventions have led to a drop in the living and working conditions affecting a population already squeezed by 18 (...)

(24 October 2011) Based on current scenarios of the International Panel on Climate Change, average global temperature will likely rise with 2 degrees if we can achieve drastic CO2 cuts in 2100. Taking account of current scenarios and commitments made by large countries to reduce CO2 emissions global warming cannot be contained and temperatures might rise with 3-4% in 2100. This will have drastic consequences for bio-diversity, food production, water etc. and could trigger more human (...)

(21 October 2011) The worldwide actions against the greed of bankers and how austerity measures impact on workers, citizens and communities (15 October) were a topic of concern at the tripartite summit. Commission President Barroso, Council President Van Rompuy, representatives of employers and trade unions referred to the actions of citizens across the world in which many union members participated. Whereas trade union representatives shared many concerns with “the indignatios” the Occupy (...)

(19 October 2011- Press Communication) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) held the biggest gathering in 2011 of health workers in Europe to discuss the effects of the crisis on health and Social Services workers. EPSU is the biggest organization of workers in Europe in the health sector. About 100 people from more than 27 European countries attended the event. The conference discussed the challenges that the crisis is putting on the different health systems of Europe. (...)