Central government
EPSU reacts with disbelief to EU Council of Ministers’ discussion to remove countries from the tax haven blacklist
Just one month after the Council adopted a black list of countries that qualify as tax havens, the European Parliament revealed that Council discusses the removal of 7 countries from this list.
Government decree ends outsourcing
The government has passed a decree that effectively ends outsourcing in central and local government. Outsourced workers in central government will be directly employed by the central government institutions while those in local authorities will be transferred to local authority-owned companies, rather than directly to the local authorities. The changes have been welcomed by trade unions although some have expressed concern about the difference in rights and pay and conditions for those in local authority companies and about the fact that the changes were implemented by decree with no
Union negotiates three-year agreement for border guards
The Service and the State Employees’ Union of Ukraine (SEUU) has signed a new three-year agreement covering the protection of labour, social and economic rights of border guards. The agreement aims to improve working conditions, professional development, training and skills. It also covers health and safety, wages and working time. The SEUU sees this as an important agreement covering more than 7,000 workers in around 50 units.
Public sector unions plan strike as firefighters call off action
At least 17 public sector unions are planning to take part in a one-day strike on 24 January to demand an end to austerity and to the retention of the single pay system for all public sector workers. The unions are concerned about pay deals with doctors, public sector directors and senior managers in the state holding company that call into question the single pay structure in the public sector. In the meantime, the firefighters' union has called off action planned for 10 January following government agreement to regrading of 14 posts within the fire service.
Museum workers take action over changes to contracts
Workers at museums and historical buildings in Greenwich in South East London took strike action on 1 January in protest at changes to their contracts imposed by management. The changes mean fewer breaks, removal of paid breaks and an extension of hours in which workers' shifts can fall. All these effectively undermine the 3% increase in the hourly rate negotiated by their trade union Prospect last year. The new terms and conditions also don't guarantee payment of the unofficial London living wage which is currently GBP 10.20 (EUR 11.50).
Unions welcome central government agreement
The three main trade unions representing workers in ministries and agencies - FP-CGIL, CISL-FP and UIL-PA - have welcomed the new agreement signed on 23 December that marks the end of almost nine years of a freeze on collective bargaining. Covering around 250000 employees, the agreement re-establishes the importance of the role of the trade unions and collective bargaining and implements the basic pay provisions set out in the public sector framework deal agreed at the end of 2016. The central government agreement has a wide range of provisions on leave, including extra leave for women who are
Security agency staff announce strike action
Public sector cuts have even had an impact on intelligence and security staff with strike action announced for 6 December. The union representing staff in the agency say the dispute is over poor pay and working conditions as well as the need for increased employment in the agency, the evaluation of posts and implementation of social dialogue.
Thousands demonstrate for public sector workers' rights
Around 10000 workers joined a demonstration in Madrid on 14 December called by the CCOO and UGT trade unions as part of their campaign to win back rights for the three million public sector workers who have been hit by austerity measures. Public services have been hit by job cuts while workers have seen their hours increased and pay fall by 13% in real terms since 2010. EPSU president Isolde Kunkel-Weber joined the march and expressed solidarity on behalf of EPSU.
24-hour strike has widespread impact
A 24-hour strike called by the ADEDY and GSEE confederations on 14 December had widespread impact on public services across the country. The confederations were protesting at further austerity measures with plans for cuts in pensions and take-home pay as well as threats to the right to strike. EPSU sent a solidarity message.
Bargaining will feature key demand on equal pay
Negotiations covering the public sector are due to begin in early January and unions have included action on equal pay as a priority. They want the employers to agree higher increases for sectors dominated by women. Unions say that comparing similar jobs requiring the same qualifications and training shows that those in sectors dominated by women are paid less than in a sector dominated by men. The FOA public services union argues this is an historic demand that requires coordinated action and it is pleased that has got the support of the many other unions in the public sector bargaining group
EPSU calls for an enquiry committee in the European Parliament on Paradise Papers
On Friday 1st December the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) sent a letter to Members of the European Parliament demanding a new enquiry committee to investigate tax fraud, tax evasion, tax avoidance and all procedures that big multinationals use in order not to pay their fair share of tax.