Austerity, education and teachers – investing in public services offers solutions and alternatives

(24 January 2012) The European Education Committee (ETUCE) organized a special event on the impact of the austerity measures on the education sector and the alternatives the unions proposed. Education is very much part of the solution say the education unions. The right to education should be part of the campaigns it was argued. A fair taxation policy is needed to ensure funding for public services including education. Unions also sought an active approach with radical suggestions being made.

EPSU’s Deputy General Secretary addressed the education union representatives underlining the analysis, the impact of the austerity measures on public services workers and the alternatives proposed, including public investment in public services and infrastructure and tax justice. He also presented the EPSU European Citizen Initiative on water as part of a broader programme of societal change unions and social movements are seeking. Other speakers included Mario Soares of the European Economic and Social Committee who introduced an opinion of employers, unions, consumers and other organizations on education. Chrstophe Degryse presented the overview of the ETUI on the Annual Growth Survey 2011, the national reform programmes and the recommendations of the European Commission based on research work undertaken for EPSU (publication forthcoming).

The Education Committee, a sister federation of EPSU in the ETUC, has agreed to develop an action plan to defend public education, teachers and in general public services. The action plan can include European day(s) of action. The event took place on 20 January 2012, in Brussels

- short report on ETUCE website