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EPSU writes to the European commission to follow up good citizens demands on Conference of Future of Europe
On May 13 the European Federation of Public Services Unions wrote to Commissioners Kyriakides, Schmit and Šefčovič regarding the final report of the Conference for the future of Europe (CoFoE).
Mixed reaction to conciliation in local government and health
The Super and Tehy health unions have firmly rejected the settlement proposed by the conciliation committee in the current dispute in local government and health. Meanwhile, the JHL and Jyty municipal services union have endorsed the proposal. The health unions argue that the pay increases on offer are inadequate and simply don’t address the urgent staffing problems in health and social care. The unions are now considering a mass resignation to put pressure on health employers to negotiate a better deal. For local government workers, the three-year pay deal should deliver pay increases of 1.9%
Union steps up action in social and educational services
The ver.di services union has planned a series of strikes and protests in the week beginning 9 May to put pressure on the VKA local government employers’ organisation in advance of the third round of collective bargaining covering over 300,000 workers in social and educational services. Around 30000 workers in the sector were involved in action on 2, 4 and 5 May but the week 9-13 May will see many more workers in involved across the country. The union is extremely disappointed that the employers failed to come up with a concrete offer to improve pay and conditions in the first two bargaining
Unions sign three-year agreement covering central government
The public service federations – Fp-Cgil, Cisl-Fp and Uil-Pa – have negotiated a three-year agreement covering the period 2018-21 that will see pay rise by between 4.2% and 5.6% with the lower pay scales getting the higher increases. The trade unions have also welcomed changes to the occupational classification system and pay structure, strengthening of relations with trade unions, changes to leave arrangements to help victims of gender-based violence and new rules on smart work and telework.
Unions launch joint campaign over pay in community and health services
The SIPTU, Fórsa and INMO trade unions organised a joint national demonstration in Dublin on 3 May to highlight the need for better pay and proper respect for workers in the non-profit community and health services (Section 39) sector. More than 400 protesters attended the rally. The sector provides many services equivalent to those provided directly by the public sector and the unions want to see the implementation of a fair funding model that will address the pay and conditions of all workers in the sector and disparities with the public sector. The unions are launching a national campaign