(Press release - Brussels 22 February 2013)
The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) is disappointed that the concessions Directive will go to trialogue in which small delegations of Parliament, Council and Commission will hammer out compromises. EPSU had argued for a plenary debate given that the Directive is new, complex and several parts are contested and transparency is required.
We welcome the statements of several political groups and politicians promising to fight (...)
What is next ? Water services? Healthcare ?
(19 February 2013) EPSU, Europe’s Public Service Workers Trade Union Federation is alarmed that the European Commission with its 4th railway package continues its ideological push to liberalise public services in the European Union. EPSU is concerned that the same arguments will be applied to other public services such as healthcare and water and sanitation.
The Commission is proposing a template for all Member States independent of their (...)
On 19-20 December 35 representatives of trade union confederations from Eastern Europe and Central Asia met in Brussels to discuss public services, public finances, taxation, corruption, procurement and trade agreements. The meeting was jointly organised by EPSU and the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Impact of liberalisation The meeting began with a debate about liberalisation and its impact on the European Union but also on how (...)
The European Union is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with Canada (CETA), The negotiators are considering the inclusion of so-called arbitration mechanisms in the case of investor state disputes. This would allow private companies to pursue a government in case a democratic majority seeks to re-negotiate or cancel an unfair contract as in the case of Bechtel against the Bolivian government. Due to large protest across the world and with the support of PSI amongst others, the (...)
(10 October 2012) The UK prime minister, the conservative party leader David Cameron, has announced that he will call for a referendum on the future relationship with the UK. Opposed as he is to leaving the EU, he wants a different settlement. He knows the European market is important for UK exports. He seeks to have the Single Market, and not much more. EPSU, Europe’s public service federation, is concerned about an approach to the EU which would undermine protection for workers in the (...)
(9 October 2012) The new handbook for shopstewards and workplace trade unionists addresses how unions are tackling energy and resource efficiency. It offers practical examples and including in public services. Examples covered include:
Use food-waste in prisons to produce electricity and solid waste to fertilise gardens
Colleagues in a hospital on a joint union-management committee conduct energy audits in the hospital
Residential care – union representatives worked to audit waste and (...)
(5 September 2012) The EPSU Public Service Network held a meeting on public procurement and concessions, which was co-organised wih EPSU’s affiliate Ver.di. The report of the meeting is available here and more info on the EPSU’s work on procurement is available in this section.
There have been over 1400 amendments to the main public procurement directive (2012/0438(COD) and 850 amendments for the utilties directive (2012/0437(COD). EPSU members are urging MEPs to support amendments (...)
12-13 March 2012
ITUH, Room B 5 bld du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels
The Education Department of the European Trade Union Institute will organise a joint course with the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) on Trade Union Actions for another Europe which will be held from 12 to 13 March 2012 in Brussels, Belgium.
Background is the range of initiatives taken by the Commission (EU 2020 Agenda and the related flagships as well as economic governance and the importance of (...)
(31 January 2012) The EC published in December 2011 a Communication A Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in Europe COM (2011) 900. This accompanies proposals on public procurement, concessions and State aid.
While the introduction recognizes the ‘fundamental role’ of public services (services of general interest – SGI) in terms of social cohesion, providing a safety net, supporting the knowledge economy, the Communication falls short on practical proposals to achieve this. (...)
(Press communication – 7 November 2011) The European Federation of Public Services Unions (EPSU), the Austrian Trade Union Federation (OGB) office in Brussels and the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour (AK) organise a meeting to launch a major study that questions the objectives, motivation and rationale behind proposed changes to the current definition of public services and trade agreements.
In the current context of crisis and indebted local and regional governments, the CETA (...)
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