Union highlights risks of outsourcing

The ZSSS trade union confederation has published a detailed article looking at the impact of outsourcing across many sectors and the initiatives taken by trade unions to prevent or end the process. The examples show the negative effects of outsourcing on pay and conditions, health and safety and union organisation and how agencies and outsourcing companies abuse employment law. Energy union, SDE, an EPSU affiliate, contributed to the overview highlighting how it was trying to reduce and restrict the impact of outsourcing in the sector. The union is particularly concerned about the increased

(May 2017) The UNISON public services union warns of a recruitment crisis in public services if public sector pay restraint is continued. UNISON quotes a new report from the independent Insitute of Fiscal Studies which say that if public sector pay continues to fall compared to pay in the private sector, the public sector will struggle to recruit and retain the workers it needs to deliver public services, and the quality of those services will therefore be at risk.

Further research has been published that reveals the threat to workers’ health posed by longer hours. The study of civil servants found a 60% increase in heart-related illness among those working three or more hours a day more than the seven-hour norm. Publication of the research comes at a time when the European Commission is consulting over the Working Time Directive. A communication from the Commission suggests that health and safety is no longer the only factor to be taken into account when assessing the impact of working time legislation. A view that EPSU and the ETUC will reject in their