EPSU 8th Congress Briefing - National Administration

The National and European Administration section of our congress will focus on:

Item 13) Resolution R.6 “National and European Administration” - introduced by Charles Cochrane (pictured), chair of EPSU Committee for National Administration – calls on EPSU and affiliates to promote trade union rights for civil servants at national and EU levels in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental rights and other relevant European and International charters and conventions; shift the current debate from performance and productivity to a quality and social justice agenda for central public administrations and respond to EU policy and case law accordingly; critically assess the involvement of the private and third (not for profit) sectors and agencies; to establish a youth monitoring system in the EPSU Committee structure and increase female participation.

The resolution for National and European Administration is designed to promote your interests.
Specifically in the sector of National and European Administration, EPSU is committed to defend principles such as solidarity, equal access, universality, continuity, affordability, proximity, social partnership and democratic control. Essential features of civil services are that of a well-trained, well-paid and sufficient workforce, socially responsible management, and social dialogue with independent and representative trade unions. Whilst the private sector, when properly regulated, has a vital role in any mixed economy, evidence and ethics show that it cannot substitute the main functions of central public administrations, which are to ensure security – social, physical and legal justice and equality for the common good and not commercial profits for the few.

For EPSU, the continuing attacks on the pay, numbers and image of civil servants, caricatured as a “financial burden”, are unacceptable. Central government and EU administrations are part of the solutions to tackle Europe’s key challenges.

EPSU will call the new Parliament to ensure that government workers will be given due respect for their role and they will not be excluded from any progressive legislation on working conditions.