PPPs, Restructuring
Rolling strikes over job cuts and dismissals at equality body
(June 2017) Employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have been taking strike action as part of a rolling campaign that has covered offices in Glasgow, Cardiff and, in the latest stage, Manchester. The strikes are in protest at budget and job cuts in the organisation as well as staff dismissals. The main union involved, PCS, has said that it is astonishing that the EHRC hasn't even carried out an equality impact assessment of the job cuts. Film director Ken Loach has sent his solidarity greetings to the strikers.
The Creeping Privatisation of Health Care in the European Union
A new briefing paper of Corporate Europe on the Creeping Privatisation of Health Care in the European Union provides detailed insight in the political and market mechanisms that increase health inequalities and lead to privatization of basic care.
Union makes some gains in fire service negotiations
(March 2017) The FP-CGIL public service federation reports that it has made some gains in the current negotiations over pay and reforms to the fire service. An EUR 80 a month pay increase will be implemented while the union will continue to negotiate a new collective agreement. The federation has also had some influence of the restructuring proposals put forward by the government and is particularly please that the fire service will retain some autonomy and not come under the control of the local prefecture.
Briefing argues for greater union and EWC role in restructuring
(March 2017) A policy brief from the European Trade Union Institute examines the role of European works councils (EWCs) in restructuring. It finds that not only is there a problem ensuring that existing EWCs play a full role in the information and consultation process but that a significant number of major restructuring are carried out where there are no EWCs. The briefing highlights the need for better rights for EWCs as well as for a stronger role for trade unoins.
World Bank called on to fix the accounting problems that make Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) fundamentally flawed and dangerous
In an open letter Eurodad, PSI, EPSU and others criticise the World Bank’s consultation on Recommended PPP Contractual Provisions and demand that is is put on hold
Union calls for agitation against fire service reorganisation
(February 2017) The FP-CGIL public services federation has called on the government to stop the planned reorganisation of the fire service and to consult properly with the unions about any proposals to change the role and organisation of the service and the pay and working conditions of employees. The union says that the government has ignored the opinitons of the union over plans to restructure the service and reduce its autonomy by giving a role to the local prefecture.
Unions secure guarantees over hospital privatisation
(September 2016) The GWU general union and MUMN nurses' union have both signed agreements with the government providing guarantees on pay and conditions and collective agreements applying to workers affected by a public-private partnership covering three hospitals. The workers affected will remain government employees.
Private Sector Dominates UNECE Forum on PPPs
Public Services International (PSI) has criticised the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for a lack of democracy and an almost demagogic bias in favour of the private sector as it tries to set global standards for Public-Private Partnerships.
Why Public-Private Partnerships don't work, The many advantages of the public alternative (New PSI publication)
The Juncker Investment Plan to create a European Fund for Strategic Investment is aiming to use public money to get more private funding. It hopes to stimulate more Public Private Partnerships.
EPSU Briefing on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) "11 facts about public-private partnerships (PPPs)"
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are not the answer to public finance constraints. This updated briefing from the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) highlights the serious financial and operational problems that have arisen with PPPs.
Juncker's plan promotes PPPs which socialise risks and privatise profits - new briefings show
(Press Communication – 16 December 2014) - The Juncker investment plan will be under scrutiny at this week’s European Council with many questions still to be clarified about how it will work in practice.
Report challenges assumptions on private sector efficiency
There is no empirical evidence that the private sector is intrinsically more efficient than the public sector. This is the main conclusion from a comprehensive review of hundreds of studies covering all forms of privatisation across many different sectors.