Transparency & Corruption, Work-life balance
European Parliament follows EPSU and transparency campaigners position: freeze of EC experts groups budget
(22 October 2014) The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of freezing the budgets of the Commission's problematic Expert Groups, 22 October. This is the second time that MEPs have
EPSU affiliate Union Syndicale's open letter to European Ombudsman: regulate revolving door
(12 November 2014) Campaigners have revealed how high level Commission officials and Commissioners seek lucrative jobs as consultants afrer their careers in the European Commission. They often deal with the
EPSU supports demands changes to EU Trade Secrets Directive and need for specific whistleblower protection
(23 March 2015) The Barosso European Commission known for its adament Pro-Business positions issued a [Draft Directive->http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52013PC0813&from=FR] to protect business secrets end November 2013. Ever since the Directive was issued
Union continues campaign over staffing levels
The ver.di services union organised further strike action among health workers on 10 and 11 October as a further step in its campaign to deal with massive staffing shortages across the sector. The union is looking to negotiate agreements to tackle overwork, excessive overtime and workers being called out at short notice to fill staffing gaps. Ver.di wants to see all workers take their proper breaks and ultimately the aim is for national legislation to set minimum staffing levels.
European Parliament supports demand for whistleblower protection – you can help by signing the petition
Following a campaign of unions such as EPSU and Eurocadres, many social action groups and MEPs of several parties, the European Parliament adopted a report on the need for an EU initiative on whistleblower protection, 24 October.
Childcare sector negotiations begin
Excessive workloads and unpredictable hours will feature prominently in the childcare sector negotiations that began on 8 November. With a slogan that "we're not jacks of all trades" the FNV trade union highlighted the problem that childcare workers were overburdened with cleaning, administrative and other tasks rather than child care itself. The union will be looking for restrictions on the extent to which employers can ask childcare workers to change their working time at short notice. The main pay claim will be for a 3.5% pay rise for the 80000 workers in the sector.
Health union negotiates staffing agreement
The ver.di services union has negotiated a new agreement with the management of the university hospitals of the towns of Gießen and Marburg in the Hesse region in central Germany. This is a major success arising from the union's national campaign of protests and strikes calling for action on staffing in the sector. The agreement, covering 7000 workers, provides for the possibility of taking on new workers as well as creating a pool of workers who are in a position to cover short and long-term gaps in staffing. It also commits the management and union to negotiate over measures to address
European Parliament considers revised Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative
The experience of many campaigners and organisations with running ECI’s has not been positive. Very few were successful and of the successful initiatives the European Commission hardly took notice. The exception was the ECI Right2Water.