EPSU

No cuts, more growth

catherine — 2010-09-06T10:25:00Z

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

ETUC letter on Financial Transaction Tax to the European Commission

Pablo — 2010-09-05T15:56:00Z

(6 September) Below you can read the letter by the European Trade Union Confederation to the European Commission in the light of the ECOFIN meeting taking place in Brussels, tomorrow 7 September, regarding the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)

The EPSU tax justice charter, calls, amongst others, for a Tax on Financial Transactions ( FTT) as part of our demands for fair and progressive taxation for quality public services and to curb purely speculative activities.


ETUC letter to ECOFIN

EPSU affiliate in Ukraine demonstrates against IMF package

Pablo — 2010-08-19T13:50:48Z

On 17 August activists of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, a confederation whose affiliates are members of EPSU, picketed the IMF representative office in Ukraine protesting against IMF interference in the internal social policy of Ukraine.

Trade unionists demanded from the International Monetary Fund to urgently hold joint consultations with the Government of Ukraine and trade union representatives in order to discuss the loan conditionalities and lift ungrounded social restrictions.

Despite assurance of IMF officials about prior consultations on social consequences of loan conditionalities, social partners were once again ignored. In its recent statement to the IMF the FPU underlines that "Ukrainian people were again confronted with a fait accompli of unjustified multiple increase in gas prises for 12 million households, freezing of wages for 4 million public sector workers, restricted access to deserved pensions, increase in women's retirement age, introduction of penalties for overdue payments of utility bills.

The Government already increased gas prices by 50% from 1 August. The FPU has sued the Government in the court to get this decision cancelled.

More information about the picket and pictures, please visit:

http://fpsu.org.ua

www.imk.com.ua

ETUC paper warns of impact of austerity measures

richard — 2010-07-07T10:37:49Z

(7 July 2010) A new discussion paper from the ETUC examines the potential impact of the range of rapid fiscal contraction policies that have been announced across Europe. It warns in particular that "a coordinated and Euro area wide fiscal contraction such as the one that is now being set up will have a considerably stronger negative effect on aggregate demand compared to a situation in which only one or a limited number of member states act."

Rather than the European economy beginning to recover the possibility is that: "Instead, fiscal austerity will push the economy back into a short recession (-0.5% in 2011) while producing economic stagnation in 2012 and 2013."

The paper argues for a totally different approach including "a European investment program to tilt economic recovery to higher levels while ‘greening' the economy, spreading the fiscal adjustment to be made at national level over a longer time horizon with the 3% deficit to be reached by 2016 -2017 and developing European tax policy instruments in order to tax speculation and greed as well as to address high and rising inequalities."

The document includes information on the austerity programmes being adopted in several of the European Union's biggest economies as well as those like Ireland and Greece that are imposing some of the most draconian cuts to public spending.

Please contact Ronald Janssen with any new or additional information about the austerity programmes in your country.

Cuts will undermine growth says Europe's largest union federation as Council meets

Veronique — 2010-06-15T07:16:32Z

Press Communication (15 June 2010) European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) says the austerity packages imposed by many countries around Europe will have a serious impact on the prospects for economic recovery. EPSU sends this message to the European Council meeting on 17 June.

Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, the EPSU General Secretary: As governments swing the austerity axe they risk chopping off any green shoots of recovery, leaving workers, pensioners and communities to face the prospect of an even longer recession. We demand plans focused on investment in public services and infrastructure, on green growth and job creation and on addressing poverty and inequality.

The Federation is the European umbrella of 250 unions which organizes nurses, tax-collectors, labour inspectors, port control authorities, custom officers, teachers, civil servants, fire-fighters, police, elderly and childcare workers, cleaners, librarians, utility workers, prison guards, ambulance drivers and many hundreds of other public service occupations.
Most workers are on low- or middle incomes and now see their purchasing power reduced by pay freezes and pay cuts (see overview).
Governments are cutting public service jobs or freezing or cutting recruitment. Our estimate is that employment will be reduced by close to 200,000 in 2-3 years time. First estimates show the cuts in public spending to be more than 200 bn Euros (see overview). This is more than the combined annual public expenditure of Hungary, Romania and Portugal.

EPSU underlines the cuts will:

Create more stress for the remaining and overstretched staff in hospital, schools, prisons elderly homes, regulatory agencies and more.
Reduce the quality of public services - less care for the sick, the old, the dying; fewer chances for the poor and vulnerable.
Undermine the enforcement of laws and regulations, so letting off the hook polluting corporations and employers that that violate health and safety and other labour laws and evade taxes.
Have a knock-on effect on non-EU countries that see their export markets effected and on developing countries as aid budgets are reduced.

EPSU, with over 8 million members, is building for the ETUC day of action on 29 September. Ten of thousands will march on Brussels to show their anger over the coordinated European cuts strategy that is hitting working men and women but leaving the wealthy, speculators and large corporations untouched.

Media contact Jan Willem Goudriaan + 32 2 2501080 epsu@epsu.org

Press release (different languages)


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - EN


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - FR


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - DE


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - PL


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - RU


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth - CZ


Press release - cuts undermine growth - ES


Press release - Cuts will undermine growth- Serbian

Overview


Overview

Briefings/Background


Background notes 1 and 2

Spanish public sector workers strike while Danish unions protest over austerity plans

catherine — 2010-06-09T09:26:37Z

Yesterday (8 June) saw demonstrations across Spain as public sector workers took strike action against government proposals to slash public spending and cut civil servants pay. Unions estimate around 75% of workers backed the strike call and thousands took part in rallies in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Trade unions in Denmark also took to the streets with a large demonstration outside Parliament. The protests were again over plans to cut public spending with unions particularly concerned about major reductions in unemployment and other social benefits.

EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel expressed solidarity with the strikers and demonstrators. She said: "Hundreds of thousands of our members across Europe have been taking action and will continue to protest against the cuts being forced on public sector workers. Governments need to understand that they cannot make these cuts without undermining the level and quality of services that are needed now more than ever to deal with the effects of the recession and support economic recovery."

EPSU's Executive debates crisis and attack on public sector workers

richard — 2010-06-08T12:26:04Z

(8 June 2010) The economic crisis and attacks on public sector workers' pay and conditions was a key debate at the EPSU Executive Committee in Brussels on 27 and 28 May.

EPSU staff gave a presentation outlining the current economic situation and providing an overview of the pay and job cuts and freezes being imposed across Europe. At least 12 EU Member States and five non-EU countries in Eastern Europe were facing substantial cuts in public services with public sector workers the target of pay cuts of anything up to 50%. The presentation also explained European Commission proposals for greater economic governance and surveillance and how this was a narrow focus on fiscal consolidation that ignored issues like social justice and the need for public services not just to play a key role in the recovery but to provide vital support for the thousands of citizens worst affected by the recession.

In the discussion that followed a wide range of speakers provided further detail of the impact of the cuts in their country and the extent to which governments had ignored any collective bargaining and social dialogue procedures and pushed through attacks on pay and conditions.

It was also clear that governments were drawing up and announcing their cuts policies at very short notice, making it very difficult for trade unions to respond.

A particular concern for a number of EPSU affiliates was the degree to which they had to fight back against biased reporting and misinformation about public sector workers' pay, conditions and pensions. The public was being presented with a distorted picture of what public servants were paid and this was making it more difficult to mobilize support for trade union campaigns against the cuts.

Although many countries were being affected by the crisis, it emerged that trade unions in a minority of countries were able to maintain a dialogue with public employers and even jointly discuss how to use public sector resources in response to the crisis.

At national level unions were planning public sector strikes in Romania and Spain. Further strike action was likely in Greece while other forms of action were also planned in Italy, France and Portugal. There was a discussion about the possibilities of action being coordinated with a view, in particular, to target the 17 June meeting of the European Council that would be discussing proposals for increased coordination of economic governance. There was a feeling that it would be difficult to organize an event or series of events in the time available. However, there was support for a coordination of press work just before the Council meeting.

Read our press release

Public service unions argue for alternative responses to the crisis

catherine — 2010-05-31T08:48:52Z

Press Communication, 31 May 2010

Leaders of public service unions from around Europe meeting in Brussels agreed that cuts to public sector pay, jobs and services were a narrow, inadequate and unfair response to the economic crisis. Union leaders pledged support and agreed to join in European wide mobilisation to promote quality public services, defend jobs and public service workers pay and conditions.

The meeting of the Executive Committee of the EPSU public services federation heard how pay freezes and pay cuts were spreading across Europe. Details were given of 17 countries, including five from Eastern Europe outside the EU, where pay freezes, pay cuts, job cuts and recruitment freezes were part of the fiscal consolidation strategies being imposed by national governments, often in line with demands from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

EPSU general secretary, Carola Fischbach-Pyttel said: "Public services are more vital than ever. They are not just an important stabilizing mechanism but provide essential support to the millions of citizens who are suffering the worse consequences of the crisis."

She argued that the EU, IMF and national governments were seriously misguided if they thought that the level and quality of public services could be maintained if jobs were slashed and the morale of the remaining workers was undermined by pay cuts and freezes.

“ We are very concerned that governments across Europe are adopting a herd mentality in opting for these attacks on public sector workers' pay and conditions. Cuts are not the solution and there are other measures that need to be considered. Tackling tax fraud is one, while increasing taxation has to be on the agenda. Progressive taxation is a vital way of ensuring there is an equitable share in funding public services and tackling the economic crisis. Large corporations and wealthy individuals have been evading taxes, employing an army of advisors to find loopholes, leaving workers to pick up the tab. ”

Sufficient funding for Europe's public services is essential to delivering the quality citizens and business desire in tax administration, control and collection, in labour inspectorates, health and elderly care, police, fire-fighting and other emergency services, environmental protection agencies and so many other services.

National representatives spoke of how some governments had swept aside proper processes of social dialogue to impose the cuts. However, there were also positive examples of trade unions being able to influence government decisions about public spending and contribute to the development of more balanced recovery programmes.

EPSU deputy general secretary, Jan Willem Goudriaan, stressed that European Commission proposals for greater economic coordination meant that the debate about fiscal consolidation was now very much at the European level. He said: “ We understand the logic of improved coordination and greater surveillance of European economies and public spending. However, EPSU is extremely worried that the focus is far too narrow and fails to take any account of issues of social justice, equity, investment and the fundamental role of public services in responding to the crisis. ”

He added that EPSU and its affiliates would ensure that the message that there is an alternative approach will be clearly communicated at national and European level in the lead up to the European Council meetings in 17 June and October. EPSU supports calls for more coordination action. The unions also adopted a joint statement (attached).

The union leaders met 28 May and will express their position in the ETUC Executive Committee meeting 1 June.

For more information please contact: Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, + 32 2 2501080

Or see : http://www.epsu.org/r/447

Joint declaration


Joint declaration - EN


Joint declaration - FR


Joint declaration - DE


Joint declaration - SV


Joint declaration - RU


Joint declaration - ES

Overview of proposed measures on public sector pay and jobs


Overview

Press communication


PR EC 27-28 May

Disappointing that conservative and liberal Euromeps chose to inflict pain rather than invest in growth

epsuadmin — 2010-05-21T13:24:13Z

(21 May 2010, Brussels) A European Parliament majority of conservatives and liberal politicians voted 20 May to inflict pain on Europe's citizens and workers. It adopted a position of severe fiscal consolidation and austerity programmes squeezing out growth and the perspective of job creation. The vote took place on the report on the long-term sustainability of public finance drafted by MEP Liem HOANG NGOC.

EPSU Deputy General Secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan With their vote for rapid and extreme measures these MEPs underestimate the anger of workers and citizens. We will not forget that it has been the policies to liberalise markets, privatise public banks and services and the failure to impose restrictions on financial market that has caused this crisis. He added: We need investment in growth and jobs, and socially acceptable measures to put us on a long-term path to reduce debts.

Ten thousands of EPSU members are protesting the draconian measures imposed without consultation and negotiations. The risk is high that the austerity will strangle growth, provide less revenues for the state, thus increase debts and start a spiral that will keep Europe in recession for years. Waiting for China, India, Latin American and other countries to pull Europe out will be the wrong way forward.

The final version of the report is available here.

Stop wasteful finance schemes and value work of public service workers

epsuadmin — 2010-04-30T08:02:34Z

(30 April 2010) On 1st of May public service workers and their unions across Europe will demonstrate for decent jobs in essential services . A key message is that Europe needs its public services to get us out of the mess that greedy bankers and failing politicians have created. Investment in public infrastructure, in health and social care, in quality public administrations and municipal services will create the path to sustainable growth and jobs. Europe needs to maintain its social spending to assist demand in the economy. Tax cuts, privatization and slashing public deficits and reducing social spending will not do so.

“We know that for each euro invested in public services and public infrastructure multiple benefits are delivered to business, to workers and to citizens. It makes a greener economy possible and addresses inequalities and poverty in a way the innovative financial schemes of bankers have not been able to do, so stop such wasteful and damaging schemes” says Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary. “We expect of the European Commission a forward looking strategy to investment in public infrastructure and public services.”

The effects on workers and their families of the financial and economic crisis, of globalization, of the increase in unemployment and precarious work, of the rise in the extreme-right, nationalism and racism will be in the minds of the millions who will take part in the 1 May festivities and marches.

We express our solidarity with the public service workers in Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Roumania, Spain, UK, Ukraine and other European countries that have been fighting for decent pensions and pay increases, for job protection these recent months. Above all public service workers demand respect for the work they do in often difficult and dangerous circumstances as nurse or doctor, firefighter or police, tax collector or childcarer. What would happen if safe and clean drinking water is not delivered, the lights do not turn on, the waste is not collected and treated, your drivers' license not prolonged in time. Or if the elderly are not taken care off and children do not have a teacher ? It is often forgotten that the vast majority of public service workers are low- or middle income earners and cuts in salaries will cause difficulties for workers and their families.

“We reject the easy solution of the liberal parties that seek tax cuts and forget to tell that you have to pay more for your services then. A banking tax, a financial transaction tax, maintaining and developing progressive taxation, addressing tax fraud and ending escape routes for corporations as well as shifting the burden of taxation of workers and their families to taxing wasteful use of resources are ways forward” she commented. “And these are the same measures such parties oppose.”

We wish all public service workers a combative 1 May.