(23 July 2010) In a judgment dated 15 July 2010, the European Court of Justice has condemned Germany over the practice of local authority employers to award contracts for pension services on the basis of a selection laid down in collective agreements. Relying extensively on the Viking and Laval case law, the Court ruled that although the right to collective bargaining is a fundamental right, the European public procurement rules should prevail.
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Adopted at theETUC Executive Committee on 1-2 June 2010
Introductory remarks
1. Quality of life of European citizens is fashioned greatly by public policies responsible for maintaining vital infrastructures like hospitals or roads and for providing major social services as health, housing and education. Public services1 are a pillar of the European social model, important for welfare and social cohesion, job creation and economic prosperity, contributing to more than 26% of the EU27 GDP (...)

(3 June 2010) Mr. Degert, the EU ambassador to Serbia, addressed the Central European group of EPSU affiliates, 2 June. He explained the EU enlargement process and what governments had to do to be ready for membership and fulfil the so-called Copenhagen criteria which include respect for the values of the EU, respect for human rights and the law and fighting corruption. Cooperation with the international court was a particular requisite in the region. Candidate countries will have to adapt (...)

(28 April 2010) Union leaders discussed the impact of the financial and economic crisis on public service workers. The union leaders have grave concerns about the implications of such measures on workers and the quality of the services provided.
Health unions referred to the cuts in salaries such as in Latvia. Workers get demotivated, migrate. A lack of investment in medical equipment and hospitals threatens the safety of patients.
Electricity and gas unions reported investment is (...)

Press Communication, 10 February 2010
“A clear message and not business as usual, is what we expect from the European Summit on the financial and economic crisis", says Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU Deputy General Secretary. “We expect that bankers will be submitted to a regime of tough controls and that financial speculators will be taxed on their dangerous financial dealings. We demand that government leaders propose additional measures to create jobs and invest in public infrastructure and (...)

(2 February 2010) CGIL-FP and CGIL-FIOM (Metalworkers) organized a conference on the implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the trade union strategy.
EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan spoke on what the Treaty can signify for public services, the possibilities for a citizens’ initiative and EPSU priorities to use the opportunities offered. The voice of the union movement at EU level needs to be strengthened to counter the pressure for early exit strategies and to focus on (...)

The ETUC has sent its proposals for action during the Spanish Presidency. It wants action to deal with the impact of the financial, economic and social crisis first and foremost. Other areas covered in the ETUC Memorandum are related to Social Europe, a Social dimension to the internal market, climate change and energy, enlargement and trade and external relations. ETUC also demands decisive action on the Social Progress protocol and that the gaps in the Posted Workers Directive are (...)

(19 October 2009, Dublin) Often, the best way to fight a ridiculous message is to laugh at it. Irish EPSU affiliate IMPACT has done just that, in a series of new videos available here
Two videos (see below) parody the way public service workers have become the scapegoat for all of Irelands economic ills. The videos cleverly portray public service workers as a shadowy ‘sect’ that has infiltrated society, while simultaneously, underlining how public servants are essential in creating a strong (...)

(3 October 2009, Brussels) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) has stated that Ireland’s YES vote on the Lisbon Referendum is; “A positive step for public services”.
“With the Lisbon Treaty likely to be passed by the end of the year, I strongly underline/endorse the positive impact of the public services provisions in the text”, said EPSU General Secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel.
The Treaty has three main provisions that explicitly call for EU legislation to ensure that (...)

(1 September, Dublin) EPSU Irish affiliates CPSU and IMPACT have held a press conference calling for a Yes vote on the Lisbon Treaty. The Irish Union representatives stated that a Yes vote on 2 October would be a big step forward for workers rights. The Unions were part of the ‘Charter Group’, which is a collection of Irish Unions who have published a guide on the Lisbon Treaty and workers rights.
Blair Horan, General Secretary of CPSU, stated that workplace rights, including collective (...)