Newsletters

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the State of the European Union to the European Parliament. It is the annual bonanza of initiatives for the forthcoming year. This year’s speech was steeped in the efforts of the European Union and Member States to support

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will deliver the annual State of the European Union speech next week (14 September), after the special Energy Council on the 9th. Workers expect both to put forward measures to assist with the cost-of-living crisis hitting workers and people across

Summer in Europe failed to provide a break for workers and our communities from rising prices for energy, food and other necessities. Inflation in July was close to or over 10% in most EU countries and topped 20% in the Baltic states. Examples from outside the EU, include North Macedonia (over 16%)

On 1 July health workers in Portugal took strike action demanding pay increases and safe staffing levels. Six days later health workers in German university clinics also took action, with a key demand for a collective agreement that ensures more staff to reduce the burden on workers and reduce high

In an historic decision, the European Council and Parliament agreed last week that Ukraine and Moldova would be given candidate status to join the EU while the ETUC Executive Committee agreed to consider applications for affiliation from the Georgian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian trade union

Many unions use 23 June, the United Nations Public Service Day, to draw attention to the struggles of public service workers. Public service workers deliver 24/7, independent of who the employer is. We are caring for nearly 750 million people in Europe alone, every day. Our work is not about filling

31 May is a day of action and strikes of Belgian public service workers. The unions demand higher pay, better conditions and pensions, investment in public services and respect for the work of public service workers. All unions joined. 2 June CNE and Acv-Puls organise a demonstration for pay, better

The pandemic has hit many workers hard, especially those exposed to infected persons like in health and social care. They had – and continue to have - a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Thousands of health and care workers died. The European Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, a

On 4-5 May, Europe’s public service union leaders met for the first time in a physical meeting since the beginning of the pandemic and dealt with a very full agenda. The EPSU Executive Committee started with urgent discussions over developments in Belarus and Ukraine. Belarus The meeting expressed

The first of May is a day to remember the victories of the workers’ movement and to highlight our demands for the alternative to the exploitation of women, men and our environment. This year our celebration is overshadowed by the aggression of the Russian army and war in Ukraine. We think of the

As we celebrate world health day the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Russian troops to stop the systematic attacks on hospitals and medical infrastructure. The WHO has recorded many such incidents. The Russian government denies its troops have done anything wrong and maintains that its

Despite the International Court of Justice demanding that Russia end its hostilities, the war in Ukraine continues at great human cost. While many in Russia deny that their troops target civilians, the destruction of villages, towns and cities is plain for all to see. Ten million people have been

Many of us are worried about what is happening with friends and comrades in Ukraine as the scale of devastation inflicted by Russia’s army increases as does the human toll. The World Health Organisation has confirmed that schools and hospitals have been hit and medical workers killed. The

After weeks of warmongering, escalating rhetoric by leaders of NATO-countries and Russia, arms deliveries and a build-up of armed forces, Russia sent armed forces into Ukraine on the morning of 24 February. The invasion has been condemned by many including the Secretary-General of the United Nations