(7 April 2008, Brussels) More pay, more rights, more equality were the battle cries of European trade union leaders at the ETUC Euro-manifestation in Ljubljana, Slovenia 5 April. 35.000 trade union representatives from many European countries marched in a colorful and joyful demonstration. We passed the message to European finance ministers that Europe’s workers have had enough of purchasing power being eroded, of the greed of their CEOs, and of Ministers who preach wage moderation but do not act against high profits, rising prices and the undermining of social rights (...)

(18 February, 2008, Brussels) EPSU calls for big public service presence in April 5 Ljubljana Eurodemo. To coincide with the meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, the European Confederation of Trade Unions (www.etuc.org) have called for a show of force of 50,000 trade unionists from the surrounding countries. The action, entitled “mobilisation for fair pay”, will highlight the disparity between calls for pay restraint for ordinary workers, particularly in the public sector, and the excessive rewards of top earners and directors year after year. EPSU General Secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel stated that; “ In light of the unjust restrictions on public service pay deals, we expect EPSU members to be there in force”. EPSU expects a high presence from (...)

(18 December, 2007, Brussels) The following is a statement agreed by the European Network for Public Service. The statement is available in English and French.
For further information, please go here: http://www.fse-esf.org/spip.php?article282
Give public services their rightful place
The European network for public services, linked to the European Social Forum, is deeply concerned by the Communication on "Services of general interest, including social services of general interest" (...)

The Socialist Group in the European Parliament has long defended the principle of an EU law on public services. Faced with inertia from the Commission, we took the initiative of preparing a draft directive. Some two years ago we were involved in setting up a public services network to defend the draft framework directive and to promote a campaign for quality public services for all. With the support of various partners (social partners, local and regional authorities and civil society), a (...)

European Commissions’ communication on services of general interest, including social services of general interest: a new European commitment (COM (2007) 724endg.)
"This marks the beginning, not the end of the debate on more legal certainty for public services in the European Union" (draft declaration)
(Brussels, 20 November 2007)
The European Commission published this week its views on the further consolidation of the legal framework regarding provision, organisation and financing of (...)

“This marks the beginning, not the end, of the debate on Public Services in the EU”
European Federation of Public Services Press Communication
(20 November 2007, Brussels) The European Commission today published its views on the further consolidation of the legal framework regarding provision, organisation and financing of public services, including social services within the European Internal market.
The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) contends that the Commission does (...)

On Monday 19 November at 19h45, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), and Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, General Secretary of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), will present a petition with more than half a million signatures to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. The petition calls for an EU directive on public services.
Reacting to indications that the Commission is poised to reject proposals for a directive on (...)

(8 November 2007) Public services provide a vital contribution to Europe’s economy. It is with this in mind that the European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety (ETUI-REHS), the European Public Services Union (EPSU) and SALTSA are organising a conference entitled “An alternative to the market: the social, political and economic role of public services in Europe”. The event will consist of a number of workshops and a plenary session taking place on 19th-20th (...)

(Brussels, 18 October 2007) The Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), meeting in Lisbon yesterday, adopted a statement on the draft EU reform treaty. The ETUC communicated this statement to Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates, who attended the Executive Committee yesterday. Today, a top-level ETUC delegation led by General Secretary John Monks and President Wanja Lundby-Wedin has presented the statement to the EU Tripartite Social Summit meeting in Lisbon. (...)