Waste, Work-life balance
EPSU's concerns about possible withdrawal of the Circular Economy Package from Commission's 2015 Work Programme
(2 December 2014) Given its potential for green job creation, resource security, environmental protection and economic growth, combined with the strong support from a wide variety of stakeholders, we condemn
EPSU contribution to EU public consultation Circular Economy: Absurdistan
(11 August 2015) The European Commission withdrew the [Circular Economy Package->http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52014DC0398] as part of its better regulation agenda earlier this year. [EPSU->http://www.epsu.org/a/10995], ETUC and many other organisations have protested against
Time for more ambition on jobs in the EU's Circular Economy Package
(16 December 2015 - press release) Today European ministers will have the chance to discuss Commissioner Vella’s proposals for the promotion of a Circular Economy when the European Commission [presents->http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/12/16-envi-indicative-programme/]
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.
EPSU’s Utilities Committee promotes just transition while condemning liberalisation
The concept of Just Transition was at the heart of the discussion at the EPSU’s Utilities Standing Committee where decarbonisation and digitalisation of the European economy were deeply debated amongst members.
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.
Warning strikes lead to negotiated settlement
Pressure on the employer from a series of warning strikes at the Suez Süd waste company, enabled services union ver.di to secure a new pay agreement that runs until 31 December 2018. The first pay increase of 2% is backdated to 1 August this year and the next pay rise will be a further 2% from 1 August next year. There will also be two lump sum payments, one net payment of EUR 150 and one of EUR 125 gross. Apprentices will get an extra EUR 275 this year and EUR 150 next year.