Transparency & Corruption, Staffing levels, PPPs
Unions calls for statutory staffing levels in eldercare
The FNV trade union has submitted proposals to the government to set staffing levels in eldercare. The union wants to see two workers for every eight residents and emphasises that there should be a balance of different skill levels. FNV argues that this is a crucial measure that will help improve recruitment and retention in the sector by ensuring that workers are not overworked and have enough time to spend with clients.
World Bank called on to fix the accounting problems that make Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) fundamentally flawed and dangerous
In an open letter Eurodad, PSI, EPSU and others criticise the World Bank’s consultation on Recommended PPP Contractual Provisions and demand that is is put on hold
EPSU echoes MEPs calls for comprehensive EU-wide protection for whistle-blowers
EPSU welcomes today’s adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution which demands that the European Commission immediately puts forward effective and comprehensive Europe-wide whistle-blower protection.
EPSU’s government affiliates restate backing for EU whistleblowers’ legal protection
EPSU’s NEA Committee, consisting of affiliates from central government and EU institutions, reiterated its support for legal protection of whistleblowers across the EU when meeting in Brussels on 3 March.
EPSU agrees firmer EP action needed on lobby transparency
EPSU fully supports the lobby transparency coalition position that ‘the European Parliament (EP) must do much more to improve lobby transparency’. A 100 civil society organisations have written an open letter to MEPs asking the EP to do more to improve lobby transparency.
The Creeping Privatisation of Health Care in the European Union
A new briefing paper of Corporate Europe on the Creeping Privatisation of Health Care in the European Union provides detailed insight in the political and market mechanisms that increase health inequalities and lead to privatization of basic care.
Strikes and protests over staffing levels
Member of the services union ver.di working in several hospitals across the country took strike action on 19 September as part of the union's campaign on safe staffing levels and reducing workloads. EPSU general secretary Jan Willem Goudriaan sent a message of support, underlining the importance of protecting the well-being of both health workers and patients by taking urgent action to reduce staff shortages in the sector estimated at over 160000, including over 70000 frontline care workers.
European Parliament supports demand for whistleblower protection – you can help by signing the petition
Following a campaign of unions such as EPSU and Eurocadres, many social action groups and MEPs of several parties, the European Parliament adopted a report on the need for an EU initiative on whistleblower protection, 24 October.