(24 May 2016) EPSU joined Belgian trade unions in a national demonstration today in Brussels, in defense of worker rights and the 38-hour working week. An estimated 50,000 trade unionists
(November 2016) A common front of trade unions in the non-profit sector organised a national demonstration on 24 November in opposition to continuing austerity and in support of new collective agreements. The sector, with over 525000 workers, covers a broad range of health, social and cultural services. The trade unions are calling for more jobs, a real pay increase and other measures to ensure qualiity employment and quality services, particularly to improve work-life balance, particularly for workers coming up to retirement.
(March 2017) Unions organising workers in the non-profit social services came together in a major demonstration in Brussels on 21 March. The unions want to see urgent action to tackle major problems facing the sector - poor pay, understaffing and excessive workloads leading to burnout for many workers trying to maintain services in impossible conditions. The unions want to negotiate a new agreement for the sector which addresses pay and working conditions but they also underline the link between quality employment and delivery of quality services. EPSU sent a message of solidarity.
The 46th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Health and Social Services was held on 14 March 2017 in Brussels. 50 colleagues from 33 EPSU affiliates from 19 countries. They dealt with a number of topics summarised below.
The CGSP/ACOD public service federation, part of the FGTB socialist confederation, organised a national strike on 10 October. The union was protesting against the austerity policies of the government, weakening of employment rights in the public sector, reduced pension entitlement and the increased threat of privatisation. The union is also objecting to plans to impose minimum service requirements when public service unions taken strike action. The union says that minimum service agreements are currently negotiated with public service employers and should not be unilaterally imposed by the
The meeting primarily dealt with EPSU's current and future priority issues and with the topics "safe and adequate staffing levels", "prevention and reduction of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress", "continuing professional development" and "regulated professions".
The European sectoral social partners for the hospital/health care sector, EPSU and HOSPEEM, renewed their commitment to promote decent recruitment and working conditions for migrant workers, in hospitals and health care facilities.
The CSC/ACV and CGSP/ACOD unions representing prison workers have taken strike action in protest at government plans to legislate on limiting their right to strike. EPSU sent a solidarity message to the unions highlighting the deteriorating conditions and overcrowding in prisons across the country and the importance of having the right to strike to highlight the need for urgent action to address these problems and reverse the impact of austerity. Rather than attack trade union rights, EPSU argues that the federal government should open negotiations to tackle the critical situation facing the
On 3 December 2018 HOSPEEM and EPSU organised the social partners’ dissemination workshop focusing on the outcomes of two projects on health and safety and continuing professional developement.
