Health and Safety, Pensions/retirement
Joint union protest over pay, pensions and austerity
Eight trade union organisations, including the five main confederations – CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA and CFE-CGC – have come together to organise a national demonstration on 13 October over the cost-of-living and the threat of austerity. The key demands will be around increases to the national minimum wage and pay rises in collective agreements and the unions will continue their protests against the pension reforms which came into effect on 1 September. The unions are also looking at measures to reduce the gender pay gap and increased funding for public services.
Unions negotiate special age limits for arduous work
The LO and other confederations have negotiated special age limits and pension additions for public sector workers in difficult and arduous jobs. When a new public service pension was negotiated in 2018, it was clear that separate pension solutions had to be agreed for over 200,000 with special age limits. After two failed negotiations, bargaining resumed on 30 May this year, and an agreement was reached on 25 August. The new model will mean that with full earnings, a special age premium of 5.8% will apply to those with a special age limit of 65 years, 6.5% for those with 63 years and 7.7% for
European Parliament interest group calls for concrete steps to protect healthcare workers' mental health
On 11 July 2023 the European Parliament Intensive Care Interest Group (EPIC-IG), adopted a joint declaration on mental health calling on the European Commission and the Member States to take concrete steps to safeguard the mental health of workers in the healthcare sector.
Union demands measures to tackle violence in psychiatric homes
The FOA trade union reports that data from the Danish Working Environment Authority shows a record number of offences in psychiatric homes in 2022 where staff were not adequately protected against violence. There were 92 cases, up from 73 in 2021, representing the highest figure since records began. FOA says this reflects a picture of everyday violence that is unacceptable for both staff and patients. Overall, there were 482 accidents at work due to violence in psychiatric institutions in 2022, a 37% increase since 2019. FOA is critical of governments that have promised action over the years
Working conditions of firefighters high in the EU Parliament agenda
Heat waves and flooding are hitting Europe once more this summer and firefighters and emergency services are and will have to face the climate crisis in a context of chronical staff shortages and poor working conditions.
Multi-sectoral project on “the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at work"
HOSPEEM, EPSU, CEMR, CESI as co-applicants and ETF, ETNO, ETUCE, EUPAE, UITP as associated organisations have been provided with financial support from the European Commission for a joint project in the field of social dialogue: “The role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at work” in the years 2021 and 2023 (VS/2021/0046).
Asbestos agreement a step forward for firefighters, emergency services and waste workers but more and better legislation is needed
EPSU welcomes the deal that lowers the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) to either 10,000 fibres/m3 including thin fibres or 2,000 fibres/m3 excluding thin fibres and includes a review clause for further lowering by 2028.
Survey highlights safety concerns among care staff
The FNV trade union and the RTL Nieuws broadcaster have published a survey covering nearly 2300 workers in nursing and home care that shows that work is becoming increasingly difficult and has to be done with fewer and fewer colleagues. The union argues that this poses a threat to the quality of care as well as the safety of employees and those they care for. The FNV says that as a result of government policy people are receiving care at home for longer and so by the time they move to a care home they often need more complex care. Waiting lists for care home places have risen from 8000 in 2008
Firefighters demand action as heatwaves and droughts threaten to overwhelm Europe’s fire services
In the midst of a heatwave and droughts across Europe, firefighters from fifteen countries representing unions affiliated to the European Public Service Unions (EPSU) came together in Stockholm.