Health and Safety
New OSH strategy should aim to mainstream OSH, be less gender blind and be based on lessons learnt from the pandemic
EPSU representative Adam Rogalewski participated in a dedicated hearing organised by the European Commission with the social partners on the New Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework 2021-2027.
Platform work: making workers’ rights matter
In February this year, the Supreme Court in the UK ruled that Uber, the driving, and delivery platform, should treat its drivers as workers and not as self-employed. This follows a trend across Europe where courts in several countries have forced digital platforms to revise the employment relationship with the workers providing their services. Platform work is changing the economic and social landscape, revolutionising the way services are delivered while raising major questions about social and labour rights.
Firefighters’ union takes on government over cancer ruling
Public service union, Fagforbundet, that represents firefighters is taking legal action to try to overturn a decision by the social insurance court that cancer doesn’t quality as an occupational disease. There was a long struggle by firefighters to get occupational injury compensation as a result of being more exposed to certain types of cancer more than other workers. This was achieved in 2016 and several workers have received this compensation. However, a new ruling reverses this decision. The union argues that there is no new knowledge or research to justify any changes. Several recent
Massive support for COVID-related strike action
Over 1400 workers, members of the PCS civil service union, took strike action from 6-9 April in protest at the failure to address safety issues at the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea in South Wales. Over 600 DVLA employees have tested positive for COVID since last September with no effective response from management or the Department of Transport (DoT). Following the strike the union has called for immediate talks to resume with the DoT and will be discussing next steps with members.
Report reveals impact of energy deregulation on working conditions
A survey of the membership of the SEKO trade union in the energy sector reveals that the working environment has deteriorated in the years since deregulation. It found problems with, among other things, risks of working alone, stress and increasing overtime. The survey identified differences between those directly employed by energy companies and those working for construction companies where 54% believe that their work environment is negatively affected by the current procurement system, compared with 34% of those who are employed by a plant owner. Furthermore, in construction companies, 42%
Stop Cancer at Work Campaign calls on European Commission to get on with including hazardous drugs in legislation now
(PRESS RELEASE - 29 March 2021) Inclusion of hazardous drugs in EU legislation, supported by the European Parliament, majority of Member States and consensus of stakeholders and responses to independent report published by the European Commission.
Members of regional, national and European Parliaments call for COVID-19 inquiry committees
EPSU together with the NGOs Age Platform and the European Disability Forum organized an event to call on the European Parliament to investigate the shortcomings and mistakes made that led to the tragic spike of deaths in care homes across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic.