Solidarity, Health
Supporting campaigns, strikes and protests
Solidarity is a core area of our joint European trade union work There are common elements to many of the actions of public service unions as we fight for better pay and working conditions or when we defend trade union rights or protest against privatisation and attacks on public services. Any expression of solidarity is welcomed by unions and it can be a real boost to their campaign when EPSU, its affiliates and other trade union organisations, not only send messages of support but also messages of protest to companies, employers and governments. This briefing gives examples of our solidarity work in recent years.
European elections 2024 – time for politicians to deliver quality public services for all
EPSU publishes our key priorities for the European elections. Much more than a list of demands, EPSU first and foremost calls for a stronger commitment from the EP to protect and promote the democratic values and solidarity mechanisms that have shaped the European project.
Warning strikes help deliver pay rises for regional government workers
The ver.di trade union has begun to consult members over the deal reached on 9 December with regional government employers after a third round of bargaining. The agreement is comparable to that covering federal and municipal workers and includes a tax-free lump sum of €3,000, which will be paid as a one-off amount of €1,800 in December 2023, followed by monthly payments of €120 between January and October 2024. On 1 November 2024, monthly salaries will be increased by €200 and then increased again by 5.5% on 1 February 2025 (with the guarantee of a minimum increase of €340). Ver.di believes
Unions agree deal covering local authority managers
The three public service federations – FP-CGIL, CISL-FP and UIL-FPL – have signed a draft agreement with the ARAN agency for public sector employers that covers over 13,000 managers and senior staff in local and health authorities. The agreement is the last in the public sector covering the 2019-2021 period and means the unions can now focus on the next round of bargaining. There are three main pay grades covered by the agreement and along with a basic increase of €135 a month there will be additional increases related to each occupational group ranging from €104 to €174. The unions are
Council workers in action as union finalises deal for health technicians
Members of the STAL local government union are mobilising for a busy end to the year with a series of actions to push for improved pay and conditions. In Coimbra there is a long-running strike related to special payments for workers in municipal swimming pools while transport workers are demanding decent facilities for drivers and are on strike on 14-15 December. Municipal workers in Almada will mobilise on 21 December over pay and the cost of living while waste workers take action on 22, 23 and 26 December in Oeiras against unilateral changes to shifts and working time. Finally, workers at
Higher pay for health and care workers in public and non-profit sectors
Following negotiations between the younion trade union and the City of Vienna and the Vienna Health Association (VHA), €150 million has been made available for better pay, better working conditions, more leisure time and measures to combat labour shortages. The 9.15% pay rise in January follows the public-sector wide negotiations but in addition there will be extra payments for night work and for working on Sundays and public holidays. Night shift workers are set to get two hours credit per shift that can be taken as time off or extra pay if not used within six months. There are extra payments
Unions agree improvements in pay and conditions for veterinary workers
After nine months of intensive negotiations, the UGT-SP and FSS-CCOO trade unions have negotiated a new agreement with the CEVE employers’ organisation covering 35,000 workers in veterinary services. Wages will increase by 11% over three years with annual increases of 4.5%, in 2023, 3.5% in 2024 and 3% in 2025. The agreement also includes a salary review clause linked to inflation and increases to mileage allowances and extra payments covering night work as well as holiday allowances. There are measures to improve work-life balance and career progression. The unions argue that all the
ETUC Executive – join the European demo 12 December. Together against austerity and for a Fair Deal for Workers
Leaders of European trade union confederations and European trade union federations discussed the ongoing campaign against austerity, for revised rules for European economic policy and for a Fair Deal for European workers.
Trade unions condemn criminalisation of LGBTIQ+ people and activists in Russia
The EPSU General Secretary and EPSU Vice-President Thomas Kattnig joined Europe’s trade union leaders in condemning the acts and attacks of the Russian government against people and activists of the LGBT+ community.
European Health Data Space must protect public trust, workers’ rights
Last week the European Parliament’s Committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) approved a compromise position on the creation of a European Health Data Space.
Tripartite negotiations deliver major boost for public sector pay
Public sector unions have welcomed the outcome of negotiations with the employers and government which have delivered a package of pay-related measures backed with DKK 6.8 billion (€910 million) of funding. A number of different groups of workers across the public sector will benefit, particularly those affected by major staff shortages. Around DKK 1.3 billion (€170 million) will go into health and elder care, for example. The package will have a wider impact than anticipated as, in addition to the higher pay for occupations like nurses, care workers, social educators and prison staff, a much
Unions rally for action on pay reform and indexation
Public sector unions, including those in the PSSJS confederation, were set to organise a national rally in Ljubljana on 7 December to push for government action on a range of key pay and conditions issues. The unions want the government to commit to implementation of wage indexation in 2024 and completion of the reform of the public sector wage system by 30 June 2026. They are also calling for the elimination of wage discrepancies across different parts of the public sector which should ensure that large parts of the public sector get the level of wage increases already agreed for some groups
Over 9% pay increase for workers in public sector and private health
Following a third round of bargaining the younion and GÖD trade unions are pleased to have negotiated pay rises of between 9.71% and 9.15% for public sector workers with a minimum increase of €192. Pay additions and allowances will also rise by 9.15%. This is the highest increase for many years and the unions believe that along with the compensation for the recent surge in inflation, there is also recognition by employers that action is needed to tackle the staff shortages affecting most public services. There is also an acknowledgement of the extra efforts made by workers as they shoulder the
Union wins another case against bogus self-employment
The Fagforbundet trade union has secured another legal victory against a care company cutting employment costs by misclassifying workers as self-employed. Three of the union's members in the private care company Recoveryakademiet have been awarded NOK 7 million (€600,000) in back pay (salary, overtime and holiday pay). The three, classified as “consultants” by the company, worked for several weeks without a legal working hours scheme being established, and were therefore paid much less than they were entitled to. They were also denied their right to holiday pay and sick pay. This follows a
Union secures another pay boost for low-paid health workers
The UNISON trade union has secured upgrading and back pay for 60 healthcare assistants employed in accident and emergency services at the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust in North East England. This is part of the union’s national campaign to secure the appropriate grading for workers on band two of the national pay scale, but who have been undertaking clinical duties falling under band three. In this case the workers are set to receive around £3,000 (€3.500 in back pay). Managers at the Trust have also agreed to enter negotiations with UNISON in the new year aimed at re