Utilities
A secure and affordable supply of energy, clean water and sustainable waste management are basic needs for each individual and our communities in society. EPSU believes that the best way to ensure that these needs are met is through the public management of utilities services, proper regulation of the sector and decent working conditions for employees. We represent workers in the electricity, gas, water and waste sectors – both public and private – and it is our job to make sure that their voices are listened to at a European level.
EPSU’s Utilities work has seen a number of successes, most notably the ECI Campaign Right2Water, in which nearly two million European citizens joined our call for the implementation of the human right to clean drinking water and sanitation in the EU.
The President of the EPSU Standing Committee for Public Utilities is Matthew Lay, UNISON, U.K. Guillaume Durivaux is the EPSU policy officer for the sector.
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EPSU mobilises for the Human Right to water ahead of a historic European Council
The European Commission last February published the draft of the Drinking Water Directive in which, for the first time, there is a direct reference to the first ever successful European Citizens Initiative (Right2Water).
Members of EPSU Standing Committee on Utilities support Danish unions, 22 March 2018
Standing committee comes together to fight for public ownership, the democratic control of utilities and the right to water
During the standing committee on Utilities, which took place on 22 March, several key issues were addressed by EPSU and its affiliates.
The fight for public water goes on in Greece
On Thursday the 22nd of February a group of trade unionists including the president and vice president of EYDAP visited the European Public Service Union (EPSU) to discuss the struggles they are facing with the water privatisation in Greece.
European Parliament considers revised Regulation on the European Citizens’ Initiative
The experience of many campaigners and organisations with running ECI’s has not been positive. Very few were successful and of the successful initiatives the European Commission hardly took notice. The exception was the ECI Right2Water.
The EU Parliament has included important measures to fight #EnergyPoverty but ruled out concrete measures to protect the most vulnerable
This week the European Parliament voted its position on the electricity market directive, missing the last opportunity to include a comprehensive definition of energy poverty in the new 2030 EU Energy Package.
Will the circular economy be an economy with no workers? New study published
A report written by The Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) and commissioned by European Public Service Union (EPSU) investigates the impact of privatization and liberalization on waste services.
Brussels Film Premiere of 'Up to the last drop' on February 22nd at the Vendome cinema organized by trade unions and civil society organizations
Why is the EU inciting Southern European countries to privatize their distribution services and to recycle their water? An Investigation at the heart of a secret war that our future depends on.
New study demands Commission to support institutional environment for Human Right to Water – and to avoid threats to it
The European Commission published its proposals for a Recast of the Drinking Water Directive, 1 February 2018. They include amendments to guarantee vulnerable groups access to safe and affordable water.
