European elections - EPSU’s key demands for a different Europe - for People and the Planet, not for Profits

European Parliament in Strasbourg

EPSU has sent the Members of Parliament seeking re-election, as well as a large number of candidates our proposals for what we expect from the Commission and the European Parliament in the next mandate. These elections are important for public services workers and Europe’s people. It is important that people vote, and vote NotoHate.

We want an EU in which the interests of People and our Planet are put before Profits. We want European Parliamentarians who stand up for Social Europe and for policies that protect public services,  workers’  rights and the environment;   and who renew the EU’s democratic basis and it’s ability to steer Europe towards a more socially just and sustainable future.

As the major trade union federation representing workers across many areas of public services, EPSU calls on  you to support a European agenda that delivers good employment, workers’ rights, and universal access to quality public services.  If elected we ask you in the next Parliamentary term to:

1. Support public investment in collectively financed and democratically run public goods and services  based on fundamental rights (e.g., to  right2water, right2energy, right2care, right2health and care).  This will be a double win for gender equality;  improving the jobs of  the many women who work in public services  as well as the services that many women depend on.

2. Reform the current financial system in Europe to allow the necessary borrowing to fund social and productive infrastructure needed  for development within and outside Europe.  A new approach to debt and the financial architecture of social Europe is essential, one that removes arbitrary national debt limits and ensures that effective sovereign debt resolution frameworks are in place in the EU.

3. Oppose policies that push for further liberalisation of public services, for example through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), that have hidden costs and that make the management of public budgets more difficult in the long-term.  

4. Deepen the EP’s work on  progressive, transparent and efficient taxation,  to stop tax avoidance by the rich and multinational corporations who hide their wealth in tax havens yet demand austerity policies.

5. Work with the trade unions to support measures that develop and strengthen collective bargaining in Member States, for example by making sure public contracts are awarded to companies that have collective agreements. Workers need higher wages and  after years of austerity. It is urgent to move forward with upwards wage and social convergence between west and eastern European Member States.   Europe’s policies should support this change of course.

6. Ensure that  laws, collective bargaining and social dialogue are the preferred regulatory instruments to shape the quality of work and services, and not  privately-driven EU standards (CEN) and certification/accreditation schemes.

7. Support the transformation of the agreement from the EU social partners for central governments on information and consultation rights on restructuring (digitalisation, collective redundancies, transfers of staff or undertakings) into a proposal for a directive for adoption by the EU Council, in line with TFEU Article 155.2. Millions of workers and civil servants in public administrations depend on it.

8. Ensure that all workers irrespective of their status are covered by EU social Directives.

9. Improve health and safety at work,  including preventing the exposure to carcinogens of firefighters and other groups of workers.

10. Obtain safe, legal migration and asylum channels to the European Union based on human rights, solidarity between EU Member States and  sufficiently staffed services that are charged with the reception and care of newcomers .

11. Promote a youth guarantee that employs young workers in public services and push for  binding  objectives at EU and national level to reduce youth unemployment.

12. Ensure access to clean affordable energy  and an  end to energy poverty.  Europe needs a publicly owned energy sector that is reliable and sustainable and to guarantee that producing  and distributing energy is a public service mission.  Public investment in renewables  will create jobs now and for the future. Our jobs depend on our planet: Just transition and Climate Justice are part and parcel of national, European and global polices.

13. Make sure that health care and social services are of high quality  for all,  by guaranteeing that they are affordable and accessible, provided on a not-for-profit basis and in the general interest. There must be  sufficient and adequately trained and  qualified staff, based on safe and effective staffing levels, with good working and pay conditions for the workforce.

14. Uphold the rule of law by opposing special rights being given  to  investors in trade and investment agreements (including in the new Multilateral Investment Court [MIC]) and to ensure  trade is fair and sustainable.

For more information : Pablo Sanchez Centellas [email protected] 

Communications & Campaigns Officer. Liaison with the EP & Youth - 0032 (0) 474626633

 

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