Early Childhood Education and Care, Information & consultation
EPSU Conference on Childcare
Good quality childcare and early years education are vital public services. However, they are often underfunded and, for many workers unaffordable, while childcare workers themselves, the vast majority of whom are women, are often undervalued and underpaid.At European level there is some recognition of the importance of childcare in increasing women’s employment and as a contribution to encourage gender equality. This meeting will debate these issues with a range of speakers including researchers, trade union representatives, employers, civil society and the European Commission.
Unions launch public service pay campaign
The KKDSz culture workers' union and BDDSz childcare workers' union have been instrumental in getting the SZEF public sector confederation to launch a campaign on public service pay. The confederation is highlighting low pay and understaffing across the public services and the need for negotiations on long-term pay development in the public sector. It calls for action on corruption and the need for a redistribution of government spending to workers to ensure a fully staffed and professional public service delivering quality services.
Union steps up action against proposed dismissal law
The JHL public services union stepped up its industrial action against proposed changes in dismissal rights with a 48-hour strike by around 10000 members who work in cleaning, property maintenance and food service sectors and sports and culture services. The strike is part of widespread trade union industrial action against plans to reduce dismissal protection for workers in small companies. The unions argue that not only is the change unfair, creating two-tier labour law but also threatens to impact women workers more than men. Trade unions are also angry that the government is trying to
The European Pillar of Broken promises, Time for a Social Europe – One Year on - Slow Progress and disappointment
On the one year anniversary of the EU pillar of social rights, EPSU publishes an informative booklet and leaflet on information and consultation rights – “The European Pillar of Broken promises, Time for a Social Europe”.
European trade unions meet EU Commissioner over Information, Consultation and Participation Rights
More is needed to support and enforce the rights of European Works Councils on Information and Consultation Rights, was one of the messages of a delegation of trade union leaders that met with EU Commissioner for Social affairs and Employment.
Commission aims for more resilient and inclusive economy
Access to quality health, care and education and fairer and better tax, benefit and social protection systems are among some of the positive elements in the European Commission’s 2019 Annual Growth Survey (AGS) that was published on 21 November.
Social dialogue in public services : ILO's new paper!
To mark the 40th anniversary of Convention No.151, the ILO has published a new paper based on a desk review of social dialogue in public services as well as of the EU social dialogue committees in central governments and in hospitals.
Union criticises high profits in private childcare
The Fagforbundet public services union has criticised private childcare companies for making excessive profits at the expense of the children and childcare workers. Private operators tend to employ fewer workers than municipal childcare providers, with employees often on lower pay rates and with poorer pension entitlement. The union welcomes the fact that a new law in effect on 1 August will require one childcare worker per three children aged 0-3 and one for every six children aged 3-5. Fagforbundet's priorities are now to get changes to the financing system for private childcare, win better