(Toulouse, 20 May 2014) EPSU’s Congress today expresses its solidarity to all those suffering from the worst floods in some 120 years in central Europe.
Congress brings together hundreds of trade unionists fighting for quality public services as essential element of social Europe, the disaster reminds us of the importance of these services. As Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and other countries struggle to cope with the dramatic effects of the flooding, including loss of life and substantial material damage, EPSU also pays tribute to the public service workers who are in the midst of the disaster. In all affected countries ‘first-responders’ are rescuing people stranded on the top floors of their homes, treating the injured in hospital, repairing electricity services to towns and villages that are completely cut off and doing much, much more to restore normal life.
Disasters remind all of us that misfortune can strike anywhere and can affect all of us. Emergency and other public services working around the clock are vitally important to soften such terrible hardship. Ensuring that public services are well-organised and funded on the basis of solidarity is a prerequisite to confronting the risks to life and livelihoods.