Newsletters

The European Commission published its much-delayed Communication on Social Dialogue and its Recommendation on Strengthening Social Dialogue in the European Union on 25 January. It is a mixed bag and something of a disappointment. No new framework for social partner agreements. It disappoints as the

The New Year has begun with major challenges for workers. In the UK, the right-wing conservative government is threatening the rights of many public service workers, even toying with the idea of banning workers in certain public services, like border guards, from joining a union or denying them the

As we close 2022, let’s give you a snapshot of EPSU achievements during the year and look forward to 2023. I wish you and yours a great New Year’s break and a successful 2023. Let’s hope for many victories for workers and the union movement. Good health to you, your families and friends

Nearly a thousand health and care professionals and other workers took to the streets of Brussels today (9 December) to protest about the lack of urgent action by governments and the European Commission to address the growing crisis in health and care. Coming from right across Europe, the workers

EPSU has been continuing its work to tackle violence and harassment at work while strongly defending Randi Weingarten, leader of the AFT teacher’s union and PSI affiliate, against an outrageous attack by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. At a major conference last week in Madrid, EPSU joined

Protests are continuing across Europe as workers call on employers to provide decent pay rises and on governments to address the cost-of-living crisis. On 16 November, we joined a strike by workers at the CPAS public social service centres in Brussels. Social workers and support staff were on strike

The European Union has little-known rules and regulations on services of general interest (SGI) established in protocol 26 of the EU Treaty. The protocol says that member states should stress the importance of SGI and it sets out a number of ideas how to interpret the shared values of the EU with

Workers across Europe continue to reel from high inflation and high prices for energy, food, rent and more. It permeated most debates during the Fagforbundet Congress which I had the pleasure of attending this week in Oslo. Many delegates had personal stories of what it meant to face higher costs of

Workers and people across Europe are suffering from soaring inflation. In the recent meetings of EPSU’s affiliates in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, we heard from unions facing similar challenges and making similar demands. Energy costs in particular are hitting households hard with

Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the State of the European Union to the European Parliament. It is the annual bonanza of initiatives for the forthcoming year. This year’s speech was steeped in the efforts of the European Union and Member States to support

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will deliver the annual State of the European Union speech next week (14 September), after the special Energy Council on the 9th. Workers expect both to put forward measures to assist with the cost-of-living crisis hitting workers and people across

Summer in Europe failed to provide a break for workers and our communities from rising prices for energy, food and other necessities. Inflation in July was close to or over 10% in most EU countries and topped 20% in the Baltic states. Examples from outside the EU, include North Macedonia (over 16%)

On 1 July health workers in Portugal took strike action demanding pay increases and safe staffing levels. Six days later health workers in German university clinics also took action, with a key demand for a collective agreement that ensures more staff to reduce the burden on workers and reduce high

In an historic decision, the European Council and Parliament agreed last week that Ukraine and Moldova would be given candidate status to join the EU while the ETUC Executive Committee agreed to consider applications for affiliation from the Georgian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian trade union

Many unions use 23 June, the United Nations Public Service Day, to draw attention to the struggles of public service workers. Public service workers deliver 24/7, independent of who the employer is. We are caring for nearly 750 million people in Europe alone, every day. Our work is not about filling