General Secretary views - Working Time Dali clocks and "La Directive servitude"

Welcome to the revamped monthly EPSU newsletter. As you can see from the layout of this publication our aim is to combine the strengths of EPSU. In the main text you will find the ‘headline stories' that concern EPSU. In the right hand column you can find your way directly to the four EPSU ‘sectors'. Each month this column will act as an editorial, highlighting developments and flagging action and co-ordination points for our [201 affiliates->art353]. In the near future, we will provide a section ‘affiliates' comments', to facilitate debate and contributions. This month, I want to highlight preparations for a major demonstration. As you will have seen from [EPSU circular No.1 (2005)->art895]our main priorities for 2005 are the Working Time Directive and the Services Directive Debate. EPSU has hit the ground running on both issues. As you can see in the main section of the newsletter, we participated in the European Parliament hearing on Working Time on 17 January. It is however our fear that this issue is being confined, indeed ‘quarantined' in the European debating space. As you know, in terms of media interest, this space can be a lonely one. Therefore the message is; lets get the national media in all member states talking about the scandalous proposal of the European Commission. On the Services Directive we have met with Social Affairs Committee rapporteur Anne Van Lancker to discuss tactics. There are encouraging signs but again we need national affiliates to start talking to MEP's and raising the national profile. We need to build on the success of our [EPSU-EP dinner->art834]. Recent articles on the services directive have appeared in [the Guardian->http://www.guardian.co.uk/analysis/story/0,3604,1394117,00.html] and in Le Figaro. But we need Union perspectives and public anger. Our Belgian affiliates, [CGSP->http://www.stopbolkestein.org/] and [CCSP->http://www.ccsp.be/] have the right approach! On 19 March we will be participating in the [ETUC->www.etuc.org] demonstration, to be held in advance of the European Council meeting. We want your help presenting our two key themes. For working time we would like you to use the {{Salvador Dali clock}} as a visual representation of the surreal nature of the Commission's proposals. Please bring placards using this theme. On the Services Directive we would like to launch the ‘rebranding' of the initiative as “the Servitude Directive”. This encapsulates the prospective effect of the initiative on workers, and moves on from the Bolkenstein association. We will be presenting these proposals to the ETUC Steering Committee on 10 February and will of course discuss this further at our own Steering committee on 25 February. Carola Fischbach-Pyttel Don't forget that we see this as a platform for EPSU affiliates. If you have any comments or suggestions for stories please contact us at [[email protected]>mailto:[email protected]](headline your message EPSU newsletter).