Gas, Economic Policy, U.K., Romania
Confederation organises protests over pay and prices
The Cartel-Alfa trade union confederation organised a series of rallies around the country from 17 October leading up to a national demonstration in Bucharest on 20 October. The confederation is calling for action to tackle surging inflation and for increases to pay and pensions. The actions were supported by EPSU affiliate Hipocrat which organises in the health sector.
Public services, climate action and how austerity will kill our planet
For countries to become zero Co2 emitters they have to address the emissions from the public services. Unison, one of the UK public service unions, researched what this would mean for the UK. A new report published on the occasion of COP26 in Glasgow.
Union ends long-running dispute with gas company
The GMB energy and general union declared an end to the long and bitter dispute with British Gas over its aggressive policy of firing and rehiring workers. GMB members voted three to one to accept a new deal. Around 7,000 British Gas engineers staged 44 days of strike action after the company threatened to sack them if they didn’t sign up to detrimental changes to their terms and conditions. The new deal offers improvements to overtime rates and unsocial hours payments, places limits on the amount of unsocial working undertaken, reverses the decision to close the defined benefit pension scheme
Brexit deal of European Commission and UK’s government not good for working people say trade unions
As the text of the agreement of the European Union and the UK has become available, it is clear that this UK Conservative government has no ambition to seek a long-term alignment with EU workers’ rights.
EPSU Executive Committee – supports Climate strike, discusses Congress, EP elections and recent EU policy
Several unions are supporting the #youthforclimate actions which are taking place across Europe. The urgency is felt and far more needs to be done to prevent global warming spiraling out of control.
Energy union threatens strike action over pay
The Federation of Trade Unions Gaz Romania (FSGR) has said it may resort to strike action if the ENGIE energy company doesn't respond to its demands on pay. The union argues that the employers have failed to come up with a reasonable offer and also to provide information needed for the negotiations. The union has been in contact with the Labour Inspectorate to help put pressure on the company to provide the requested data and it hasn't ruled out possible legal action to be accompanied by protests and strikes.
EPSU’s South East Europe constituency meeting tackles gender equality, recruitment and collective bargaining
EPSU’s south east European Constituency meeting, which met in Sofia 28-29 March 2017, held in-depth discussions on the persistence of the gender pay gap and what could be done to reduce inequality through collective bargaining.
Brexit will wreak havoc on workers in Ireland and UK say EPSU affiliates
During a day filled with suspense regarding the imminent triggering of Article 50 by the UK Government, which will mark the start of formal Brexit negotiations, which will end with the UK leaving the European Union, Irish and UK unions met to address the likely impact of this unprecedented decision.
Supreme Court confirms holiday pay ruling
(March 2017) The Supreme Court has ruled that energy company British Gas can no longer appeal against a European Court ruling that holiday pay should take account of earnings based on commission. The case has been supported by public services union Unison and is based on the Working Time Directive. The union challenged British Gas because it restricted holiday pay only to basic pay which penalised workers who received a lot of commission pay. Unison is concerned about the impact of Brexit on this important legislation.
Europe's unions defending social rights – workers and people first when dealing with Brexit
(13 January 2017) The result of the negotiations between the European Union and the UK will impact on people first and foremost. Workers, students, researchers, civil servants, families could be