Electricity, Trade
Pay rise for 20000 workers in electricity sector
(March 2017) Around 20000 workers in the private electricity sector saw their pay increase by 1.55% from 1 February following a new pay deal negotiated by the GPA-djp and PRO-GE trade unions. The increase is above the 0.9% average inflation rate for 2016. Trainees will also get the increase. The agreement includes a commitement to contiinue discussions about pay and job content, working in difficult circumstances as well as shift work and arduous work at different phases of the working career.
EPSU update on trade March 2017
The focus of the update: The EP plenary vote on CETA (15 February 2017) and next steps - EC consultation on a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC). - The recent stalling of TiSA negotiations. - EU development policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Green 10 today urged MEPs voting on CETA in Strasbourg to reject the flawed EU-Canadian trade deal in an open letter
The coalition of trade unions and civil society grounds wrote: At noon today you will be voting on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA)
Water movement calls on European Parliament not to ratify CETA
In an open letter sent to all MEPs in the run-up to the vote on CETA on 15 February, the European Water Movement, Council of Canadians, Blue Planet Project, Food & Water Europe and Wasser in Burgerhand call on the European Parliament to vote against
Energy workers strike over pay
(January 2017) Member of five trade unions organising in the energy sector, CGT, CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC, called for strike action on 31 January in protest at the employers' attempt to freeze pay in the sector. The unions say that workers will not pay the price of restructuring in the sector and want immediate negotiations on pay. They also call on the government (the majority shareholder in the major energy companies EDF and ENGIE) to come up with an industrial strategy for the sector. EPSU sent a message of support.
Leaked documents show TISA is in deep trouble
According to newly leaked documents, the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) is in severe trouble. The papers show that despite attempts to delete controversial proposals from the draft text, very little has been achieved in almost any of the service areas.