EPSU

Plenary meeting sectoral social dialogue Committee on Electricity

catherine — 2010-12-14T15:03:00Z

14 December 2010, Brussels - Social Dialogue in the Utilities - Electricity / event, Brussels

Joint Social Partner Conference on Climate Change, Employment impact and Just Employment Transition Principles for the European Electricity Sector

catherine — 2010-12-13T15:08:00Z

EMCEF / EPSU / EURELECTRIC

13 December 2010, 9h30 - 17h00

Venue: ETF (European Transport Federation), Galerie Agora, 105 rue du Marché aux Herbes, 1000 Brussels

Languages= Active: English, French, German, Italian, Czech, Romanian - Passive: Swedish, Spanish and Hungarian

This project receives financial support from the European Commission

Collective bargaining conference (2 days)

catherine — 2010-12-07T09:40:00Z

Emerging from the crisis - fair pay and employment in the public services

7-8 December, Brussels ITUH

Collective bargaining in the crisis

Public service trade unions continue to face a very challenging bargaining environment. Pay cuts and pay freezes have been imposed on workers in Latvia, Ireland, Greece, Romania and Spain. Cuts in public spending are leading to job cuts and recruitment freezes so that those still left in work are under pressure to maintain services despite the attacks on their pay and conditions. ETUC advisor Ronald Janssen will provide a broader cross-sectoral perspective on the crisis.

Research report on the impact of pay cuts

There will be a session specifically on collective bargaining in the public services and participants will be briefed on the results of a research project examining the impact of pay cuts and pay reforms in several of the countries hit hardest by the crisis.

Workshops

There will be three simultaneous workshops on the afternoon of day one and the morning of day two of the conference. We are currently planning to cover the following themes, with short introductory presentations from researchers or EPSU affiliates:
• Closing the gender pay gap
• Fair pay in the utilities – initial results from a multinational research project
• Tackling low pay and no pay – how unions are improving minimum pay rates and dealing with unpaid wages particularly in Eastern Europe
• Sustainable development – can environmental issues be tackled through collective bargaining?
• Demographic change – policies to tackle the ageing workforce
• More and better jobs – less flexibility and more security?

With two sessions of workshops, the conference this year will provide a broader range of debates for participants to get involved in. The final two sessions of the conference will include a report back from this year's three regional collective bargaining conferences in Copenhagen, Madrid and Bratislava and a closing debate on priorities for our collective bargaining work in 2011.

Last year's conference attracted over 140 participants from 30 countries and we hope that this year's conference will as well attended so that we can have a wide-ranging exchange of views on how to deal with the crisis. We were also pleased to see an increase in the proportion of women participants and would encourage affiliates to maintain this trend.

This conference receives financial support of the European Commission


Participation form - EN

Meeting documents

Social Dialogue Gas Plenary meeting

catherine — 2010-11-17T14:56:00Z

17 November 2010, Brussels - Social Dialogue in the Utilities - GAS / event, Brussels

38th Meeting of the EPSU Executive Committee (2 days)

catherine — 2010-11-08T11:08:00Z

8-9 November 2010, ITUH, Room AUD, Brussels

You are herewith invited to the 38th meeting of the EPSU Executive Committee. It will take place at the International Trade Union House – Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5 – 1210 Brussels – Room AUD, starting at 09:00 on 8 November and finishing at 16:30 at the latest on 9 November 2010.

Interpretation has been requested as follows: Active: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Russian Passive: Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese and Greek.

The minutes of the previous meeting (27-28 May 2010) were sent with Executive Committee LC Nr 12 (2010) on 23 June 2010 and are available at http://www.epsu.org/a/6643. A First Draft Agenda is attached. Other meeting documents will be sent as soon as available.

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives. Committee members from countries under 100% on the ‘5 band' index, are referred to the attached ‘rules governing financial assistance. Should you require accommodation, a list of hotels in Brussels offering preferential tariffs to the EPSU/ETUC is attached.

Please fill in and return the attached participation form by 20 September 2010 at the latest.

Meeting documents

Participation form


PART FORM EN

List of hotels in Brussels and an area map


hotels list


map ITUH

33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Health & Social Services

catherine — 2010-10-28T14:25:00Z

33rd Standing Committee on Health and Social Services
28 October 2010: 9h00 -17h00 Jean Monnet Building, Room M4
and
LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare services in Europe
27 October 2010 : 9h00 – 16h30 Jean Monnet Building Room M6, Plateau du Kirchberg – Luxembourg

Dear Colleagues,

You are invited to participate in the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Social Services, which will be held on 28 October 2010 in Luxembourg, at the Jean Monnet Building, Room M4 (Plateau du Kirchberg).

The meeting will start at 9h00 and end at 17h00.

Please note: the meeting of the Standing Committee will be preceded by the joint LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare services in Europe on 27 October in Room M6 of the Jean Monnet Building from 09h00 to 16h30.

A joint dinner with members of the LRG Committee will be organized on the evening of 26 October. Information will be sent directly to registered participants.

An area map is enclosed for information.

The draft agendas and meeting documents will follow in early September.

For both meetings interpretation has been requested to and from English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish (active). We have also requested the possibility to speak Danish, Dutch, Greek, Norwegian and Portuguese (passive).

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives. EPSU does not make hotel booking for participants, a list of hotels offering preferential tariffs to the EPSU/ETUC is attached.

Committee members from new EU countries and EU applicant countries under 100% on the ‘5 band' index, are referred to the attached ‘rules governing financial assistance'.

Please fill in and return the attached participation form to be returned by 24 September 2010 at the latest.

Meeting documents

Minutes of the Standing Committee 12 April 2010

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care

Part form (for both the Standing Committee on 28 October and the LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare on 27 October)


Part form for 27-28 October

List of hotels and area map


List of hotels


Map Jean Monnet Building

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care

catherine — 2010-10-27T08:46:00Z

see LRG section - Health and Social Services / event, Luxembourg

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care

catherine — 2010-10-27T08:22:00Z

LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare services in Europe
Room M6, 27 October 2010
Plateau du Kirchberg – Luxembourg - Local Government / event, Luxembourg

35th meeting of the standing Committee on Local & Regional Government

catherine — 2010-10-26T08:37:00Z

26-27 October

35th meeting of the EPSU Standing Committee on Local and Regional Government
Jean Monnet Building, Room M2, 26 October 2010
and
LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare services in Europe
Room M6, 27 October 2010
Plateau du Kirchberg – Luxembourg

You are herewith invited to 35th meeting of the Standing Committee on Local and Regional Government.

The Standing Committee will meet in Room M6 from 09h00 to 17h00 and the joint LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare services in Europe on 27 October will meet in Room M6 from 09h00 to 16h30. An area map is enclosed for information. A joint dinner with members of the HSS Committee will be organised on the evening of 26 October. Information will be sent directly to registered participants.

The agendas for the Standing Committee and the joint workshop will follow in early September.

For the Standing Committee interpretation has been booked in (active) French, English, German, Italian, Swedish and Portuguese and (passive) Danish, Norwegian, Spanish, Dutch and Greek. For the joint workshop the languages will be slightly different: (active) English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and (passive) Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Greek, Dutch.

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives. EPSU does not make hotel booking for participants, a hotel list is attached. Committee members from new EU countries and EU applicant countries under 100% on the ‘5 band' index, are referred to the attached ‘rules governing financial assistance'.

Please fill in and return the attached participation form by 26 September 2010 at the latest.

Meeting documents

Minutes of the Standing Committee 1-2 March 2010

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care


Invitation LC 38- EN

Participation form (for both the Standing Committee on 26 October and the LRG/HSS workshop on eldercare on 27 October)


Part form

List of hotels and area map


hotels Luxembourg


Map Luxembourg

34th meeting of the Standing Committee on National & European Administration

catherine — 2010-10-13T14:01:00Z

34th meeting of the EPSU Standing Committee on National and European Administration 13 October 2010 Jean Monnet Building Room M2 - Plateau du Kirchberg - Luxembourg

This is to invite you to the 34th meeting of the Standing Committee on National and European Administration.

The meeting will take place in Luxembourg, at the Jean Monnet Building (Plateau du Kirchberg, room M2).

It will start at 9.00 and will end at 17.00 at the latest.

An area map is enclosed for information

Interpretation has been requested to and from French, English, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. We have also requested the possibility to speak in but not listen to Danish, Norwegian, Portuguese and Greek.

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives.

Committee members from countries under 100% on the ‘5 band' index, are referred to the attached ‘rules governing financial assistance'.

Should you require accommodation, a list of hotels offering preferential tariffs to the EPSU/ETUC is attached. Several affiliates recommend the following hotel: Grand Hotel Cravate, 29 Boulevard F.D. Roosevelt, Luxembourg City 2450, Luxembourg – however the rate we were given is of approx 135 Euros.

A draft meeting agenda is attached and other meeting documents will be sent as soon as available.

If you have not yet done so, we kindly invite you to complete the attached Communication Information form.

Please fill in and return the attached participation form by 10 September 2010 at the latest, thanks.

Invitation letter


LC40 invitation letter EN

meeting documents

participation form


part form

Map & hotels list


hotels list


map

Social Dialogue Electricity working group

catherine — 2010-10-05T13:49:00Z

5 October 2010, Brussels

read the short report of the previous meeting

EPSU Conference on Utilities in the European context(22-23 September)

catherine — 2010-09-22T13:53:00Z

Change, Modernization and Adaptation: Lisbon agenda 2020 and workers

International Trade Union House (ITUH) – Room Auditorium

5 Boulevard du Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels

Following the invitation sent on 6 May (EPSU LC GEN no 5) for our European Utilities Conference, please note that we have now obtain financing from the European Commission and are therefore able to offer additional languages and financial assistance to more colleagues from New Member States, candidate countries and Neighborhood countries - Please see the attached REVISED practical details for financial assistance, travel and accommodation.

Dear Colleagues,

The proposal of the EPSU Secretariat to organise a European Sectoral Conference each year and devoted to a different sector has been accepted by the EPSU Executive Committee on 9-10 November 2009. The first Conference is for the Utilities.

We are therefore pleased to invite you to our European Utilities conference that will take place in Brussels on 22 -23 September 2010, at the International Trade Union House, boulevard du Roi Albert II, 5 - 1210 Brussels, room Auditorium.

The meeting starts at 14h00 (registration will start at 13h00) on Wednesday 22 September and will end at 17h00 on Thursday 23 September 2010. An area map is enclosed for information.

A dinner will be organised in the evening of 22 September in Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre, 17 avenue du Boulevard, 1210 - Brussels, starting at 18h30 with a ‘networking party'.

The aims of the Sectoral Conferences are:
To organise a place where all affiliated unions in the sector can meet, discuss and exchange information; and for the colleagues to learn to know each other;
To bring unions from the whole European geographic area together;
To provide an overview of current European Union and EPSU policies in the sector;
To establish EPSU as a voice in our sectors;
To consider the main issues of concern to the unions.

For your information, the EPSU European Works Council Coordinators Network meeting will take place on 21 September, ITUH room B and the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities will take place in the morning of 22 September from 09h00 to 12h30, ITUH Auditorium (see separate invitations).

Please fill in and return the attached participation form by 2 August 2010 at the latest.

This circular and enclosures are being translated into FR/DE/ES/SV/RU/SC

Invitation letter + Reminder


LC Gen5 invitation - EN


LC Gen8 reminder - EN

meeting documents and practical details

REVISED Participation form


REVISED part form - EN


REVISED part form - EN

List of hotels and area map


Hotels list


MAP


MAP ITUH & hotel THON

This conference is organised with the financial assistance of the European Commission

Working Group “Retention and Recruitment”

epsuadmin — 2010-09-22T12:52:00Z

Social Dialogue in the Hospital Sector Working Group “Retention and Recruitment” 22 September 2010: 10h00-17h00 Brussels (venue to be decided)

We are pleased to invite you to the next social dialogue group meeting on Wednesday 22 September 2010 in Brussels.

The draft agenda and meeting documents will be sent to you as soon as possible.

The Commission will reimburse travel and subsistence expenses to representatives from EU countries in accordance with their financial rules.

You will receive more information about the venue, interpretation facilities and other practical details as soon as we have received the official invitation from the European Commission.

Please fill in the attached participation form and return it by 10 September 2010.

meeting documents

participation form


part form

List of hotels in Brussels


Brussels Hotels List

33rd Meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities

catherine — 2010-09-22T12:00:00Z

22 September 2010, 09h00 – 12h30

Brussels, ITUH, Auditorium

You are herewith invited to the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities. It will take place in Brussels on 22 September 2010, at the International Trade Union House, bld du Roi Albert II, 5 – 1210 Brussels, room Auditorium. The meeting starts at 9h00 and will end at 12h30. An area map is enclosed for information.

The Standing Committee will be followed by an EPSU Utilities Conference (see separate invitation here), starting on 22 September at 14h00 and ending on 23 September around 17h00.

A dinner will be organised in the evening of 22 September in Hotel Thon, Brussels.

Interpretation has been requested to and from French, English, German, Russian, Czech and Serbo-Croatian. We have also requested the possibility to speak Spanish, Italian and Swedish.

A draft agenda and meeting documents will follow.

Please note that the EPSU European Works Council Coordinators Network meeting will take place on 21 September, room B, also in the ITUH.

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives. Should you require accommodation, a list of hotels in Brussels is attached. Committee members from countries under 100% on the ‘5 band' index, are referred to the attached ‘rules governing financial assistance'. Members which receive financial assistance are also expected to attend the European Utilities Conference.

Please fill in and return the attached participation form by 2 August 2010 at the latest.

This circular and enclosures are being translated into FR/DE/ES/SV/RU/SC

Meeting documents for the Standing Committee

Minutes of the Standing Committee 26 February 2010


Invitation LC 31 - FR


Invitation LC 31 - DE


Invitation LC 31 - ES


Invitation LC 31 - SV


Invitation LC 31 - HR


Invitation LC 31 - RU

Participation form (please use same form as for the Conference)


PART FORM


PART FORM

List of hotels and area map


Hotels list


Map ITUH


MAP ITUH & hotel THON

Meeting documents for the Conference

EPSU EWC coordinators network meeting

catherine — 2010-09-21T13:51:00Z

International Trade Union House, room B

You are herewith invited to the EPSU European Works Council Coordinators Network meeting on 21 September 2010. It will take place at the International Trade Union House ITUH, room B, Boulevard du Roi Albert II 5, 1210 Brussels. The meeting starts at 9.00 and will end at 18.00. An area map is enclosed for information.

Interpretation has been requested to and from French, English, German and Russian. We have also requested the possibility to speak Spanish, Italian and Swedish.

Please note that the 33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities will take place in Brussels, ITUH Auditorium, in the morning of 22 September; The Standing Committee will be followed by an EPSU Utilities Conference, starting on 22 September at 14h00 and ending on 23 September around 17h00.

We expect participating unions to cover all travel and subsistence costs of their representatives. Should you require accommodation, a list of hotels in Brussels is attached.

Please complete and return your participation form by 2 August 2010 at the latest.

Meeting documents

participation form


PART FORM EWCs

Map of the area & hotels list


2010 Hotels list


MAP

33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities, 22 September 2010

EPSU Conference on Utilities in the European context - Change, Modernization and Adaptation - Lisbon agenda 2020 and workers

Collective Bargaining CWE energy group

catherine — 2010-09-20T12:54:00Z

Draft Agenda

1. Recent collective bargaining developments – there will be a report at the meeting but you can also follow collective bargaining news in the utilities here

2. Draft EPSU collective bargaining guidelines and key bargaining issues – the proposed guidelines were discussed briefly at the April meeting and we agreed to reconsider them again at this meeting.

3. Wages, profits and dividends – the latest figures for the main energy companies

4. Training and skills – a discussion about sector skills councils and whether the group should undertake any specific work on training

5. Joint meeting with Nordic unions – changes in the structure of the European energy market mean that it might be worthwhile for the CBCWE group to work with EPSU affiliates in the Nordic region. One possibility would be to organize a joint meeting (financed by a social dialogue project) between the CBCWE group and the Nordic energy unions to consider the value of doing this and how it might work in practice.

6. Salary comparisons – the Wage Indicator's revised project on salary comparisons (WISUTIL) has been approved by the European Commission. Maarten van Klaveren from the University of Amsterdam will outline the project and the main task for EPSU and its affiliates.

7. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – company CSR reports provide some interesting information on collective bargaining, training, health and safety and other issues. An EPSU-commissioned report looks at the extent to which companies are meeting CSR standards and providing information in line with CSR guidelines. Another short report (available shortly) also looks at a specific group of companies to compare the information they provide.

Regional Collective Bargaining seminar, 14-15 September

catherine — 2010-09-14T13:49:00Z

EPSU Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining Regional Conferences 2010

Maintaining and improving decent work in the public services

EPSU is organising three regional conferences on collective bargaining and social dialogue during 2010. EPSU affiliates are invited to participate to continue some of the key debates from the main collective bargaining conference in December 2009.

The conferences will cover a range of issues under the heading of decent work. Debates will include: the effects of outsourcing and how to deal with them; responses to precarious employment; equal pay and the impact of the crisis of women workers.

Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss in detail the Congress resolutions on collective bargaining and equal pay and priorities for EPSU over the next five years


Letter of invitation


participation form

Meeting documents

This conference is organised with the financial assistance of the European Commission

Social Dialogue Gas working group

catherine — 2010-09-09T13:38:00Z

9 September 2010, Brussels

Follow-up working group 19 March


09.09 INVITATION

10th SEE Energy Round Table (2 days)

catherine — 2010-09-07T15:08:00Z

EPSU/FES South East European Energy Round Table

7-8 September 2010

Hotel "Crna Gora", Bulvar Sv. Petra Cetinjskog 2, Podgorica, Montenegro

the main aim of the meeting is

informing on South East European Energy Community,
implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Social Aspects of the South East Europe Energy Treaty,
discussing common trade union strategy regarding energy supply and investments,
updating on the European social dialogue in the electricity and the gas sector,
updating on collective bargaining developments,
planning future activities and trade union co-operation in South East Europe.

The meeting will be held in Montenegro. The exact venue will be announced later.

It will start on 07 September 2010 at 9,00 in the morning and finish on 08 September 2010 after lunch. Participants are expected to arrive on 06 September 2010 in the afternoon/evening and depart on 08 September 2010 in the afternoon/evening.

Draft programme of the meeting is enclosed.

We kindly ask you to cooperate with the Working Group on Collective Bargaining and Richard Pond from EPSU to get an overview of trends and developments on pay, working time and conditions for the meeting.

According to the conference capacity limits we invite 2 representatives of each trade union (the List of Invited Trade Unions is enclosed).

Organisers will arrange hotel services (accommodation, food, meeting room, technical equipment) and the interpretation. According to financial possibilities some travel costs could be reimbursed as well. Due to the budgetary restrictions, especially colleagues intending to fly, please contact the EPSU Regional Office in Prague.

Please note that accommodation and where relevant travel costs will be reimbursed for unions that are in order with their affiliation fees including for 2010.

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided from the local language into English and Russian. The delegations from Albania are requested to bring their own interpreter speaking English or Montenegrin for consecutive translation into their languages. Please let us know if you have any problems with this arrangement.

Participants who need visa for Montenegro please contact directly Ms Ivana Prnjat (ivana79@t-com.me) , who will send you local invitation.

Please confirm participation of your representatives to the EPSU Regional Office in Prague by returning the attached participation form by fax or e-mail as soon as possible (by 15 August 2010 at the latest).


Draft programme - EN


List of invited TU


Participation form

Jiri Schlanger's resignation from President Trade Union of the Health Service and Social Care of the Czech Republic

catherine — 2010-09-02T13:45:31Z

Read the full article in our Executive Committee section (2 September 2010) - Health and Social Services

Jiri Schlanger's resignation from President Trade Union of the Health Service and Social Care of the Czech Republic

catherine — 2010-09-02T13:30:20Z

(2 September 2010)

Dear Jiri,

Please receive our warmest congratulations and best wishes for the imminent change in your professional life. I know you have seen quite a few ministers of health during your time as president of the union. So you have plenty of insight in the dealings of the ministry of health and this should equip you well for the challenges to come. I do not know of a country where the ministry of health is not a complicated portfolio. High demands are supposed to be met with often inadequate resources. Powerful lobbies try to get the best piece of cake often at the detriment of other less influential groups. It is good to have a trade unionist in such a key position. I wish you the necessary stamina and energy for the new task.

I would of course also like to thank you for the work you have done for EPSU in the past years, both in your capacity as Vice President of the Standing Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. We have seen significant developments in EPSU, good ones and also not so good ones. But overall we can draw a very positive balance of our joint work to which you have actively contributed.

All the best to you and I look forward to cooperate with your successor.

Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary


Jiri Schlanger letter

No cuts, more growth

catherine — 2010-09-02T10:25:00Z

European Day of Action: On September 29, to coincide with a meeting of European finance ministers, the ETUC will organise a European Day of Action: "No to Austerity - Priority for Jobs and Growth. As European Governments move collectively to slash public expenditure, including jobs, pay and pensions, while the European economy is fragile and vulnerable to renewed recession, the ETUC is to mobilise a collective trade union response. This will be centred on a big demonstration in Brussels

We aim to form a strong EPSU block in the demonstration. We therefore invite all of you to participate in this EPSU bloc:

EPSU CALL EURO-DEMO/MANIF
29 September 2010 Brussels


call - EN


call - FR


call - NL


call - DE


call - IT

PARTICIPATION FORM Euro-Demonstration 29 September


part form EN

ROUTE & MAPS


Route and maps

The poster and leaflet are available in two languages, English and French, on the ETUC website (in EN below).

If you would like to receive the files in high resolution format to translate them into your respective languages, we will send them to you on CD. Please send your request to the following e-mail address: Stéphanie Wouters.


POSTER EN


Tract and poster - EN

(15 June 2010) UPDATE:
ETUC demands available: EN - FR

(7 June 2010) UPDATE:
ETUC resolution on crisis available: EN - FR

(3 June 2010) As European Governments move collectively to slash public expenditure, including jobs, pay and pensions, while the European economy is fragile and vulnerable to renewed recession, the ETUC is to mobilise a collective trade union response. This will be centred on a big demonstration in Brussels but the ETUC is calling on affiliates to take the maximum possible degree of action in all the countries of the European Union. This can include protest stoppages, demonstrations, meetings with Government finance ministers etc.

The ETUC is also supporting the ITUC world wide Day of Decent Work on October 7.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) speaks with a single voice on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 82 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.

(version française ci-dessous)

For more information:

Patricia Grillo

Head of Press and Communications

Tel.: + 32 (0)2 224 04 30 – Cell phone: + 32 (0)477 77 01 64

E-mail: Pgrillo@etuc.org


29 Sept - EN

ETUC resolution


ETUC resolution - EN

ETUC demands:

No to Austerity – Yes to Growth and Jobs


ETUC tract - EN

"Non aux coupes sombres, oui à plus de croissance"

Journée européenne d'action

La CES organisera une journée européenne d'action le 29 septembre pour coïncider avec le Conseil européen des affaires économiques et financières.

La CES organisera une mobilisation européenne en réponse à un mouvement collectif des gouvernements européens vers une diminution des dépenses publiques, à savoir l'emploi, les salaires et les pensions, à un moment où l'économie européenne reste fragile, vulnérable et en proie à une nouvelle récession. Cette réaction consistera en une grande manifestation à Bruxelles. Mais en même temps, la CES demande à ses affiliés de s'impliquer un maximum dans des actions collectives dans tous les pays de l'Union européenne. Ces actions pourraient prendre la forme d'arrêts de travail, de manifestations, de rencontres avec les ministres des finances des gouvernements etc.

La CES soutient également la journée mondiale du travail décent organisée par la CSI le 7 octobre.

La Confédération européenne des syndicats (CES) parle d'une seule voix au nom des intérêts communs des travailleurs au niveau européen. Fondée en 1973, elle représente aujourd'hui 82 organisations syndicales dans 36 pays européens ainsi que 12 fédérations sectorielles. La CES est aussi sur Twitter, YouTube et Flickr. Si vous souhaitez vous inscrire à la newsletter de la CES, merci de cliquer ici.

Pour plus d'informations:

Patricia Grillo Responsable de la presse et de la Communication Tél.: + 32 (0)2 224 04 30 – GSM: + 32 (0)477 77 01 64 E-mail: Pgrillo@etuc.org


29 Sept - FR


ETUC resolution - FR

Non à l'austérité – Priorité à la croissance et l'emploi


ETUC tract - FR

Nein zu Sparmaßnahmen – Priorität für Wachstum und Beschäftigung


ETUC tract - DE

EPSU contribution to: ERGEG Public Consultation Paper on Draft Guidelines of Good Practice on Regulatory Aspects of Smart Metering for Electricity and Gas

catherine — 2010-09-02T09:55:52Z

REF: E-10-RMF-23-03 10 June 2010

EPSU welcomes the consultation. EPSU sent comments on the status report on smart meters to ERGEG in January 2010.

We underlined a number of points including the importance of privacy issues, protection of low-income users, employment, certification and verification issues. Many of these points have not been addressed. The Draft Guidelines on Good Practice would therefore benefit by including the below points.


it 8.1 EPSU Contribution to ERGEG consult smartmetering

Being an energy leader means leading on social issues says EWC GdF Suez regarding IP take-over

Veronique — 2010-09-02T09:21:05Z

(1st September 2010) The EWC of GdfSuez spent a full two days debating and discussing the take-over and integration of IP by GdfSuez. The economic and financial consequences for the company, its industrial project as well as the consequences for workers in GdfSuez and IP were raised. The EWC finally adopted a joint position indicating a number of its concerns and the way it wants to follow up on the establishment of New IP. The statement allows GdfSuez to go ahead with the process.

For the statement (FR only for the moment) :


Position EWC GDF Suez on take-over of IP - FR

European Commission reply to EPSU letter on cuts in public services jobs and wages

Pablo — 2010-09-01T13:57:00Z

(1 September 2010) Here you can read the reply by the European Commission to our communication of 22 July 2010. The letter is signed by the European Commission vice-President Viviane Reding.


EC Reply

Update: South African unions in consultation over new offer.

Pablo — 2010-09-01T13:09:05Z

(1 September) Here you can read the reply by DENOSA (Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa) to the letter of solidarity sent by EPSU yesterday, inside also there is an update on the strike of public sector workers that is taking place in South Africa.


DENOSA REPLY

2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

richard — 2010-08-31T17:00:56Z

Poland, Czech Republic and Ukraine - protests against pay cuts and freezes; Romania - unions pursue legal challenge against pay cuts; UK - pay freeze imposed in local government in Scotland; Switzerland - cleaners' strike continues - epsucob@NEWS - bimonthly email newsletter

National protest against wage cut proposals

richard — 2010-08-31T16:49:31Z

Public sector workers including health employees, firefighters and police are set to join a demonstration on 21 September against government plans to cut civil service pay in 2011. The proposals are part of the budget cuts put forward by the new government and the health union warns of the risk that the cuts could be deeper than the 10% being talked about. Unions are also concerned about planned government reforms of the Labour Code which they believe are aimed at weakening employee rights to make the labour market more “flexible”. Read more at > Czech news website (EN) Read more at > Statorg (CZ)

Unions to demonstrate against pay freeze

richard — 2010-08-31T16:48:11Z

Public sector unions are building for a major demonstration on 22 September in protest at the government's plans to freeze pay in 2011 as part of cuts strategy. Unions in the state sector are calling for an increase of 5.3% next year. Read more at > Polish news website (EN) - Poland / Central government, Health and social services, Local government, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Unions co-ordinate legal action against government

richard — 2010-08-31T16:46:28Z

The Sed-Lex civil service federation is urging individual members to pursue legal action against the government and challenge the imposition of the 25% cut in pay that was implemented from 1 July this year. The union is also considering taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights. Another public sector union, Publisind, is also co-ordinating action among its members. Read more at > Sed Lex (...) - Romania / Central government, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Public sector pay will rise in 2011

richard — 2010-08-31T16:44:18Z

After two years of pay freezes, public sector pay will increase in 2011 by the rate of inflation recorded in the second half of 2010. The government made the announcement following an agreement with the International Monetary Fund which also involves the unfreezing of pensions. (Retail prices rose by 7.9% in the year to August, with the consumer price index registering a lower increase at 6.3%.) Read more at > Balkan Insight website (...) - Serbia / 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Two union federations leave civil service negotiations

richard — 2010-08-31T16:43:16Z

A pay agreement for 2011 has been negotiated in the civil service but with only one union federation, Memur-Sen, supporting the increase. Both Kamu-Sen and KESK left the negotiations at different points in protest at the way they were being run by the government. KESK also wanted the negotiations postponed until after the referendum and the possibility that unions would have a clear right to strike if constitutional changes are agreed. The negotiations will deliver two 4% pay increases in each half of 2011 plus TL80 (€41) for all workers. Read more at > Hurriyet news website (EN) And further at > Hurriyet

EQUAL PAY QUESTIONNAIRE – URGENT

richard — 2010-08-31T16:41:53Z

All EPSU affiliates are being urged to reply to the questionnaire on equal pay that was sent out earlier this year. This is a vital issue for EPSU with two resolutions passed on the subject at last year's Congress. So far we have had 14 responses from nine EU Member States and two Eastern European countries. This means we have a long way to go before getting a comprehensive picture of pay inequality and action to close the gender pay gap in the public services. Get copy of questionnaire at > (...) - Europe / 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Union wins potentially important equal pay victory

richard — 2010-08-31T16:41:02Z

The Equality Tribunal has ordered a local authority to award a female after-school service manager the same pay as managers in the technical services department. The case was pursued by Else Marie Nygaard with the support of the YS union and pay comparisons showed her receiving a salary that was between NOK2000 and NOK30000 (€2000-€3750) less than a manager in the mainly male technical services section. The decision could have important implications for pay levels in local authorities. Read (...) - Norway / Local government, Equal pay, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Regional authorities look to reinstate minimum pay rules in procurement

richard — 2010-08-31T16:39:56Z

The WSI trade union research institute has found that regional authorities are pursuing various possibilities to set up or re-establish procurement rules that require contractors to bide by relevant collective agreements. They have been reviewing the situation since 2008 when the European Court ruled against Lower Saxony in the Rüffert case. Following the case 10 regional authorities set aside their procurement rules. Now four have introduced new rules and five are planning changes this autumn. The authorities are using sectoral minimum wages as a basis for their new rules or are taking advantage of the fact that special rules apply to the transport sector. Two regional authorities have also introduced minimum wages specific to procurement. Read more at > Hans Böckler (DE)

Local government employers in Scotland impose pay freeze

richard — 2010-08-31T16:38:47Z

Unions have reacted angrily to the decision by the COSLA Scottish local government employers to impose a pay freeze on 150,000 council workers. COSLA had offered a three-year deal with 1% in 2010, 0% in 2011 and 0.5% in 2012. This was rejected by unions but instead of negotiating the employers have moved to impose a worse deal with a 0.65% increase this year followed by two years of pay freeze. Read more at > UNISON (EN) And at > Unite (EN) And at > Herald news site (EN)

Equal pay day highlights women's “unpaid” work

richard — 2010-08-31T16:37:28Z

Services union VIDA is supporting the ÖGB trade union confederation's campaigning around equal pay and the Equal Pay Day planned for 29 September. The date was chosen to correspond to the 25.6% gender pay gap in Austria, represented by the idea that if men and women both work full-time for a year the pay gap means that on average women are unpaid for the final three months of the year. The union stresses that equal pay for work of equal value is not just a question of fairness but would also mean an important boost to the economy. Read more at > VIDA (DE)

Unions protest against public sector pay freeze and other IMF policies

richard — 2010-08-31T16:36:34Z

The FTUU trade union confederation organized a demonstration on 17 August in protest at government policies, including a public sector pay freeze, that are being imposed as a result of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Read more at > EPSU (EN) - Ukraine / 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Demonstration planned in support of cleaning strike

richard — 2010-08-31T16:35:40Z

The SSP/VPÖD public services union has organized a demonstration on 2 September in support of the ISS cleaning employees who work at Geneva airport and who have been on strike for over seven weeks. The union is calling for ISS to apply the collective agreement in force at the Swissport company that subcontracted the cleaning. ISS has imposed individual contracts on the workers that means they are between €175 and €1000 a month worse off depending on their length of service. Read more at > (...) - Switzerland / 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Waste sector minimum wage to rise in November

richard — 2010-08-31T16:34:40Z

The current €8.02 an hour minimum wage in the waste sector is to be increased to €8.24 from 1 November. This is the outcome of negotiations between ver.di and the VKA public and BDE private employer organizations that confirm the minimum wage in the sector will continue beyond the initial period of 1 January to 31 October 2010 an will now be maintained at least until 31 August 2011. Verdi is also pleased that negotiations will resume in January 2011 and it wants to establish minimum rates for specific occupations such as loaders and drivers. Read more at > ver.di (DE)

Union organizes week of protests in lead up to national demonstration

richard — 2010-08-31T16:33:43Z

The STAL local government union organized a series of protests near the prime minister's office in the week beginning 23 August. The union is protesting about government policy towards local government and in particular restrictions of the collective bargaining process and plans to introduce greater working time flexibility. Read more at > STAL (PT) - Portugal / Local government, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Negotiations to resume in nursing home and home care sector

richard — 2010-08-31T16:32:50Z

Collective bargaining over the VVT nursing home and home care agreement will resume on 14 September following informal talks between the unions and employers over the summer period. Both sides think that there is now scope for an agreement with a key point being provisions on age-related working time to improve work-life balance. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL) And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL) And at > NU'91 (NL)

Union secures 3% increase in energy agreement

richard — 2010-08-31T16:31:40Z

Ver.di has negotiated a 3% pay increase from 1 January 2011 for the 20,000 workers in the private energy sector in Eastern Germany. The deal also includes a €1,500 lump sum payment to cover the period from July to December 2010. Trainees will also get the 3% increase and a €300 lump sum. The union also resisted employer attempts to increase working time beyond the current 38 hours a week and have ensured that the framework agreement continues until 2015. Read more at > ver.di (...) - Germany / Utilities, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Unions break off negotiations with church employers

richard — 2010-08-31T16:30:33Z

The Fagforbundet municipal union has broken off negotiations over a new two-year agreement with the church employers. A key matter for dispute is over pay for workers with 20 years' service and the union says that the employers' current offer would leave this group of workers around €885 a year worse off than workers with 20 years' service covered by similar collective agreements. The dispute now goes to arbitration. Read more at > Fagforbundet (...) - Norway / Health and social services, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Union attacks scale of fixed-term staff in civil service

richard — 2010-08-31T16:29:28Z

The PCS civil service union has criticized the ministerial employers for using over 4,000 fixed-term workers across 20 departments. The union campaigns for fixed-term staff to be given permanent contracts and argues that these workers are often employed on different pay and conditions from those of permanent workers. Read more at > PCS (EN) - UK / Central government, 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Conference will focus on impact of pay cuts and freezes

richard — 2010-08-31T16:28:11Z

EPSU's collective bargaining and social dialogue conference will this year focus on the impact of pay cuts and pay freezes across the public services and union strategies to resist and reverse them. A research project looking at eight countries in particular will provide useful background information for conference participants. A draft agenda for the conference is available in 10 languages Read more at > (...) - Europe / 2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

Solidarity message to South African Unions

Veronique — 2010-08-31T10:38:11Z

(31 August) EPSU General Secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, has sent a solidarity message to the unions that have entered the second week of Strike in South Africa for a decent wage.

Read the message here:


ESPU solidarity message - South Africa

Message of solidarity send by PSI to its affiliates in South Africa regarding the strike.


PSI Solidarity message to South African Unions

Thirsty for Change: A critique of World Bank policies in water

Veronique — 2010-08-31T08:22:39Z

(31 August) The Boston-based group Corporate Accountability International has published a 16-page report called "Thirsty for Change"
The report criticizes the policies of the World Bank. Several union colleagues contributed to the report which has examples from Armenia and Turkey. Union colleagues underline how the private sector operates.
The Group calls the World Bank to change its policies and focus on supporting the public services.

See the report here http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org/sites/default/files/Thirsty-For-Change.pdf

How did Paris remunicipalise its water services ? The benefits of public ownership.

Veronique — 2010-08-31T07:11:16Z

(31 August) Anne Le Strat, Deputy Mayor of Paris and President of the Eau de Paris, (the city's new public water company) has contributed a chapter to the upcoming French edition of the Reclaiming Public Water book. The chapter, titled "Paris an example of how Local Authorities can regain control of water management", is now available online in English, Spanish and French.

The water services of Paris were remunicipalised in January 2010. The operations of the private companies (Suez and Veolia) were transformed into a single public operator, Eau de Paris. In her article Le Strat argues that public management has significant advantages, such as transparency and reinvestment of profits. She details which cost savings have been made.

See the article here:

English

Spanish

French

EPSU

Plenary meeting sectoral social dialogue Committee on Electricity

Joint Social Partner Conference on Climate Change, Employment impact and Just Employment Transition Principles for the European Electricity Sector

Collective bargaining conference (2 days)

Social Dialogue Gas Plenary meeting

38th Meeting of the EPSU Executive Committee (2 days)

33rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Health & Social Services

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care

EPSU LRG-HSS joint workshop on elderly care

35th meeting of the standing Committee on Local & Regional Government

34th meeting of the Standing Committee on National & European Administration

Social Dialogue Electricity working group

EPSU Conference on Utilities in the European context(22-23 September)

Change, Modernization and Adaptation: Lisbon agenda 2020 and workers

Working Group “Retention and Recruitment”

33rd Meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Utilities

EPSU EWC coordinators network meeting

Collective Bargaining CWE energy group

Regional Collective Bargaining seminar, 14-15 September

Social Dialogue Gas working group

10th SEE Energy Round Table (2 days)

Jiri Schlanger's resignation from President Trade Union of the Health Service and Social Care of the Czech Republic

Jiri Schlanger's resignation from President Trade Union of the Health Service and Social Care of the Czech Republic

No cuts, more growth

(15 June 2010) UPDATE: ETUC demands available: EN - FR

(7 June 2010) UPDATE: ETUC resolution on crisis available: EN - FR

"Non aux coupes sombres, oui à plus de croissance"

EPSU contribution to: ERGEG Public Consultation Paper on Draft Guidelines of Good Practice on Regulatory Aspects of Smart Metering for Electricity and Gas

Being an energy leader means leading on social issues says EWC GdF Suez regarding IP take-over

European Commission reply to EPSU letter on cuts in public services jobs and wages

Update: South African unions in consultation over new offer.

2010 August epsucob@NEWS 17

National protest against wage cut proposals

Unions to demonstrate against pay freeze

Unions co-ordinate legal action against government

Public sector pay will rise in 2011

Two union federations leave civil service negotiations

EQUAL PAY QUESTIONNAIRE – URGENT

Union wins potentially important equal pay victory

Regional authorities look to reinstate minimum pay rules in procurement

Local government employers in Scotland impose pay freeze

Equal pay day highlights women's “unpaid” work

Unions protest against public sector pay freeze and other IMF policies

Demonstration planned in support of cleaning strike

Waste sector minimum wage to rise in November

Union organizes week of protests in lead up to national demonstration

Negotiations to resume in nursing home and home care sector

Union secures 3% increase in energy agreement

Unions break off negotiations with church employers

Union attacks scale of fixed-term staff in civil service

Conference will focus on impact of pay cuts and freezes

Solidarity message to South African Unions

Thirsty for Change: A critique of World Bank policies in water

How did Paris remunicipalise its water services ? The benefits of public ownership.

(15 June 2010) UPDATE:
ETUC demands available: EN - FR

(7 June 2010) UPDATE:
ETUC resolution on crisis available: EN - FR