Gas, Working Time
Negotiating and campaigning on working time
After pay, working time is core collective bargaining issue but is also an important area of employment regulated by national and European legislation. EPSU has been very active in defending and calling for proper implementation of the Working Time Directive and is involved in current debates on working time. The why and how of working time reduction is a guide produced for EPSU by the European Trade Union Institute and examines long-term trends in working time, the arguments for reducing it and examples of how this has been achieved.
Common declaration of EMCEF, EPSU and Eurogas on ECOTEC study on the impact on employment in EU-25 of the opening of electricity and gas markets, and of key EU directives in the field of energy (published in 2006/2007)
The members of the Sectorial social dialogue committee Gas want to point out their reflections on the ECOTEC study. While Eurogas, EMCEF and EPSU underline the importance of a stable
Demographic change, age management and competencies in light of the challenges facing the European Gas sector
EPSU, EMCEF, EUROGAS Report by David Tarren, Senior Research Fellow, Working Lives Research Institute (October 2009) With the financial support of the European Commission Introduction The average age of European
European Gas Industry Joint Submission to Consultation on: Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020
The European social partners for the gas industry, EPSU/EMCEF for the trade union side and Eurogas for the employers/companies side, have considered with interest the Consultation paper “ Towards a New Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020.”
Confederations plans series of anti-austerity actions
(May 2016) The three confederations are mobilising for a series of actions over the next few months culminating in a general strike on 7 October, the second anniversary of the centre-right government. The unions are angry about continuing cuts to public services but also to the threat to the 38-hour week. They are calling for more investment in public services and a range of other measures to boost the economy. The first major event will be a joint national demonstration on 24 May in Brussels. Read more at FGTB (FR), ABVV (NL), CSC (FR), ACV (NL), CGSLB (FR), ACLVB (NL)
Back to 35-hour week in public sector
(July 2016) Public sector workers have won back their right to a 35-hour week. Legislation came into effect earlier this month reversing the increase to 40 hours a week pushed through as part of a range of austerity measures in 2013. Most workers benefit immediately although implementation in some cases may be delayed to ensure continuity of service. Public sector unions have been waging a high-profile campaign against the five-hour increase, negotiating hundreds of local agreements across the public sector to retain the 35-hour week. Read more at CGTP (PT) and UGT (PT).
Unions welcome President's veto of Labour Code
(July 2016) Trade unions have welcomed the decision by President Dalia Grybauskaitė to veto the draft Labour Code. She said that the Code fails to provide adequate protections for workers and she has sent it back to Parliament with 22 suggested amendments. The unions have been campaigning against the Code since last autumn, warning of the impact of measures that would relax rules on working time and make it easier for employers to sack workers. Read more at Baltic Times (EN) and EPSU (EN).