Environment/Climate Change, Precarious employment
Responding to the challenge of climate change
Climate change, the largest single threat to current and future generations, is posing fundamental challenges for public services and public service workers. In recent years, we have seen extreme weather events, flooding and forest fires for example, leading to loss of life and widespread damage and destruction of buildings and infrastructure. Our members across many services have been part of the immediate and longer term response – in emergency and rescue services, energy and water, local and regional government. EPSU has been working hard to influence policies at global and European level aimed at decarbonising our economies and calling for a shift away from growth at all costs. It is essential that we achieve a more sustainable society is achieved through a just transition whereby no one is left behind.
This briefing, produced for EPSU's 2019 Congress, sets out the federation's recent activity on climate change and current priorities. EPSU has published research focusing on some of the key issues and policy developments including its position on the EU's Green Deal, the failure of energy liberalisation to address climate change and an analysis of action on climate change adaptation.
EPSU Standing Committee on Health and Social Services discusses labour shortages, demonstrations in Brussels, organizing and climate change
After a review of the alarming situation of trade unions in Turkey one year after the earthquake, the 60th Standing Committee discussed strategies to address staff shortages, greening healthcare sector, and its priorities for this year.
Union highlights jobs and pay challenges in tackling energy transition
The SDE energy trade union has raised concerns about the capacity of the energy sector to cope with the green transition. The union highlights slow wage growth in the sector, which is adding to the major challenges in recruiting new staff and the lengthy training required to ensure they have the specific skills needed. The SDE is also worried that existing staff are leaving the energy sector and seeking employment in better-paid positions in other industries. The union points out that a lack of skilled staff will make it difficult to successfully upgrade energy facilities. It has also raised
Communication of the Commission on Europe 2040 climate targets: EPSU calls for a fair, social, inclusive initiative
EPSU welcomes the Communication of the European Commission on Europe's 2040 climate target, in which it recommends a 90% reduction of the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
ETUC urges member states to back platform work law
Millions of workers across Europe could benefit from new rights, says the ETUC, if the latest version of the platform directive is backed by member state governments. The text is still being negotiated by the European Parliament, Council and Commission but could deliver important improvements, including a reversal of the burden of proof so that platforms would have to prove that there is no employment relationship. It also will require inspections in the workplace following any reclassification of a worker to assess the situation of their co-workers; transparency over the algorithms that set
Union wins another case against bogus self-employment
The Fagforbundet trade union has secured another legal victory against a care company cutting employment costs by misclassifying workers as self-employed. Three of the union's members in the private care company Recoveryakademiet have been awarded NOK 7 million (€600,000) in back pay (salary, overtime and holiday pay). The three, classified as “consultants” by the company, worked for several weeks without a legal working hours scheme being established, and were therefore paid much less than they were entitled to. They were also denied their right to holiday pay and sick pay. This follows a
Unions continue protests over state budget and social dialogue
Alongside action by the CGIL and UIL confederations, the CISL trade union confederation is planning a national protest in Rome on 25 November over the government’s budget for 2024 and its refusal to engage with the trade unions. Together with demands for increased funding for public services, CISL wants to see action on staffing and measures to reduce precarious work. It also wants the government to commit to negotiating new collective agreements in the public sector. The mobilisations by UIL and CGIL continue with regional stoppages planned for 24 and 27 November and 1 December.
Union mobilises climate reps for green workplace action
The Vision trade union is aiming to address climate issues at work through a network of climate representatives who are aiming to work with employers to take a range of initiatives including looking at ways to make commuting more sustainable. Climate reps in 15 branches, representing thousands of members in municipalities, regions and the Church of Sweden, are currently putting forward proposals such as subsidized travel cards for public transport, initiatives to provide bikes, charging stations at the workplace and other things that enable reduced climate impact from commuting. Vision says it
Successful pan-European Conference of Local and Regional Government
The EPSU LRG European Conference brought together over 40 delegates and speakers from across Europe to discuss remunicipalisation of public services, focusing on the climate crisis, gender equality and democratic ownership.