(9 November 2015) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates over 700.000 refugees have come across the seas to Europe so far this year. They fled war, hunger and poverty. Speaking at the EPSU Executive Committee meeting Luca Visentini stressed many more refugees will seek to come to Europe as war in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq continues. And Europe can offer shelter and asylum. This can be addressed collectively in the EU. The solidarity between Member States is not there and that is not acceptable. The Swedish affiliates pointed out that governments are cutting drastically in development aid. They shift budgets to addressing the refugee crisis. This has negative effects. Less children in poor countries can go to schools. Less midwifes are trained risking more women to die in child birth. It was agreed that EPSU would address the European Commissioner for Development Cooperation on this. Members also agreed to use International Migrants Day 18 December to draw attention to the situation of refugees. Resources are needed for their reception and shelter. This includes sufficient and well-trained staff. EU Member States should sign UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.
The new ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini presented the work and priorities of the ETUC since Congress. He stressed:
- The need for an alternative economic policy. The austerity and structural reform agenda is not working. It does not lead to more growth and jobs. There are alternatives like the investment plan of the ETUC and the demand for the social progress protocol. ETUC wants a focus on public investment and internal demand in the EU. Wage growth supported by strong collective bargaining, trade union rights and social dialogue are prerequisites. ETUC is seeking to play its full role in the European semester.
- The voice of workers in under attack. We should stand up for the right to strike. Several unions in the public services see this right questioned and even taken away. The April Executive Committee will consider the campaigning to defend our rights.
The Executive Committee started with a minute of silence for the peaceful protestors that died in the Ankara massacre. Many were trade union members of DISK and KESK. Members also commemorated Jevgenija Stalidzane
The Executive Committee discussed:
- Preparations for the PSI Congress and the priorities like trade, tax, migration and the trade union rights.
- Organising and Recruitment. Increasing the number of workers that are member of a trade union helps the voice of workers in the workplace. Activating more workers will increase the power of the union to achieve its objectives. EPSU will coordinate a project for health and social services workers in Central and Eastern Europe. Further discussions will take place in the CEEC constituencies.
- The Eurasian Economic Union. We will continue to monitor developments and their impact on the workers in the countries concerned.
- Policy staff briefed the Executive Committee on the recent negotiations with the employers in national administration and approved the draft agreement on information and consultation; on the impact of digitalisation on workers and public services; on patient mobility and how the Commission abuses this to create a market in health care; and on the preparations for the Paris Summit on Climate Change. PSI will be coordinating public service unions
- Other updates were given on the work of EPSU on trade, the EPSU role in the ETUC Congress and its follow up; collective bargaining. The EPSU Executive Committee expressed its support for the general strike of Greek workers on 12 November; the situation of refugees, positions of EPSU and PSI and the European institutions. Members were briefed on the proposals of the European Commission to further economic and monetary integration including national competitiveness councils. EPSU will seek contributions on the Annual Growth Survey.
- The budget for 2016 was approved.
- The energy union for Greece, the utilities union for Kyrgyzstan and the Prison Officers Association for UK were received as new members.
A new EPSU logo was revealed. Work on a new website is continuing.
The EPSU Executive Committee was chaired by Isolde Kunkel-Weber on the first day and Francoise Geng on the second day. Both are EPSU vice-presidents. EPSU President Annelie Nordstrom received the best wishes for good health from the members of the Executive. David Prentis, EPSU senior-vice-president was involved in the lobby campaign of the UK unions against the trade union rights bill and the follow up.
The meeting took place on 3-4 November 2015, Brussels. The next meeting will take place on 19 and 20 April 2016.
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