Environment/Climate Change, Pensions/retirement
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.
Massive turnout for second day of pension protests
All the main trade union confederations – including CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA and CFE-CGC – with the support of student organisations, organised a second day of strike action and protests on 31 January against changes to the pension system. There was again massive support in over 250 demonstrations across the country matching the first day of protests on 19 January. The trade unions are calling on the government to withdraw the planned reforms and especially the proposal to increase the pension age from 62 to 64. They argue that the vast majority of the population is opposed and the unions are
Trade unions united in opposition to pension reform
All the major trade union organisations – including CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA, CFE-CGC – along with student groups were involved in coordinated, nationwide strikes and protests on 19 January in opposition to government plans to reform the pensions system. Trade unions are opposed to the increase in pension age and years of contributions required to get a full pension. They cite the independent Pensions Advisory Council that says that the financing of the pensions system is not under threat. The trade unions have set out alternative plans, including measures to support workers in their fifties to
Union movement reaffirms opposition to attacks on pensions
All the main trade union organisations have come together along with groups representing students and young workers to reject the idea that the national pensions and retirement system needs reform or an increase in the retirement age. In a joint communique the organisations underline that it is a major mistake for the government to come up with proposals to reform the system in the current economic and social climate. The trade unions argue that, like the vast majority of the population, they do not support any increase in the legal retirement age or in the contribution period and underline
Strike action secures better pensions for childcare workers
After a month of strike action, the Fagforbundet, Delta and education trade unions have been able to secure an agreement with the PBL private childcare employers’ organisation on new pension arrangements. Workers will be able to build up a lifetime contractual pension from 1 January 2025 which will be comparable to that available to municipal employees. In addition, the percentage rate paid by employees for their own occupational pension will be reduced from 3% to 2.5% per cent in 2023, then down to 2% per cent when the new scheme is established. The employer's share is increased accordingly.
More childcare workers join strike on pensions
Following the failure of voluntary mediation between unions and the PBL private childcare employers’ organisation, over 500 more workers were set to join the strike action from Monday 14 November, taking the total to around 3600. The three unions involved – Fagforbundet, Delta and the education union – are calling on PBL to provide a pension scheme comparable to that covering the municipal sector and already applied in other parts of the private sector. If the current PBL scheme is maintained then workers could lose out by between NOK 50,000-70,000 (€4840-6780) a year. Mandatory mediation is
New Commission Communication “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth
In June 2022 the European Commission published a Communication “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth” that strengthens the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) provisions of EU trade agreements.
Unions step up childcare strike
The public service unions Fagforbundet and Delta, along with the UF teachers’ union, are stepping up their industrial action to secure better pension rights for workers in private kindergartens. The action began on 17 October when mediation with the PBL employers’ organisation failed. More workers were due to join the action on 27 October which aims to ensure that workers covered by the PBL agreement have the same pension rights as childcare workers in municipalities. The action is getting widespread support, including a delegation from EPSU and its affiliates, and has helped boost union
Union set to mobilise over forest firefighters’ rights and conditions
The FSC-CCOO and FeSP-UGT public service federations representing forest firefighters say they will launch a campaign of strikes and protests unless the government and the autonomous regions deliver legislation that really protects the rights and conditions of this essential group of workers. The unions warn that action is needed urgently in the light of the surge in serious and large forest fires this summer. They argue that the legislation put forward on 25 August does not fully address the demands of the unions for homogenous working conditions covering training, salary structure
Police and prison staff protest at labour ministry
The Publisind trade union federation organised a protest rally on 17 August outside the Ministry of Labour to highlight a range of issues relating to the pay and pensions of its members in prisons and police services. The union is angry that a key law on salaries has not been fully implemented and is calling for a 15% pay rise for prison and police staff. The union points out that its members were essential to the efforts to tackle the COVID pandemic with many staff working very long hours to try to maintain services in the face of staff shortages of around 25%.
Confederations react to latest pension proposals
Government proposals to reform the pension system have yet to convince the three main trade union confederations – the ACV/CSC, ABVV/FGTB and ACLVB/CGSLB. While they welcome achieving the aim of a minimum pension of €1500 (monthly amount will reach €1630 by 1 January 2024), they are concerned about the tougher rules applying to the 20 years of work required to achieve the minimum and the fact that periods of unemployment will not be taken into account. With the plan to increase the retirement age to 67 by 2030, the unions are also disappointed that there are no proposals on early retirement or