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Newsletter 24 March 2009

Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU General Secretary

(24 March 2009) As you know, at EU level, EPSU is the recognised social partner in the hospital sector. April 2009 will be a seminal month for this sector on two fronts. EPSU is running two major campaigns: on working time) and on cross-border healthcare.

Our campaign ‘healthcare for all’ has reached a crucial point. Our focus is on the Environmental and Public Health Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament. On 31 March the members of this committee are due to vote on the draft directive on cross-border healthcare. Our affiliates have been heavily engaged with MEPs to show how on health equality, accessibility and universality, this proposal falls far short of expectations. Our hope is that, just ahead of the European Elections, MEPS will not want to be seen to be voting for a healthcare system that favours only the rich. Read more

Put People First!

G20 leaders will meet at the London Summit on 2 April to address the global financial crisis. On 28th March, thousands of people will march through London as part of a global campaign to challenge the G20 ahead of the summit. Peter Waldorff, PSI general secretary, will attend the rally and a round-table discussion hosted by UNISON. The platform of unions, development agencies, faith and environmental groups will tell world leaders that only just, fair and sustainable policies can lead the (...)

Fackförbundet ST executive comes to Brussels for NEA update

(19 March 2009, Brussels) The Swedish Union of Civil Servants; Fackforbundet ST, brought its Executive Committee to Brussels this week for an intensive EU training session. It was the first time that the 80,000 strong union had sent the Executive on an EU study trip. EPSU sent National Administration (NEA) Officer Nadja Salson to give a detailed briefing on the updates in the sector. The EPSU officer explained the Social Dialogue process including the follow-up to statement on stress at (...)

Europe’s health workers push for health care to remain open to all, ahead of Euro Parliament vote

(20 March 2009, Brussels) From Monday (23 March), EPSU health workers throughout the European Union are set for a week long lobbying drive of Members of the European Parliament. Their aim? To try to keep healthcare in the European Union open to all. On 31 March, the committee charged with public health issues (ENVI) is set to vote on the controversial ‘”cross border healthcare package”. The members of the committee have a simple choice according to EPSU General Secretary Carola (...)

Commission consults over gender pay gap

(Thursday 19 March, Brussels) Around 65 representatives of equality organizations, trade unions, governments, employer organizations and the European Commission met in Brussels today (Thursday 19 March) to debate how to reduce the gender pay gap. As Employment Commissioner Spidla highlighted in his introductory speech an average pay gap of 17% across Europe shows that there is still a lot of work to do to achieve pay equality. The Commission has launched an awareness campaign across Europe (...)

EPSU welcomes European Parliament resolve on working time as negotiations with Council Start

End to Opt-Out ‘logical’ if directive is to have any meaning (18 March 2009, Brussels) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), particularly as the European social partner for firefighters and medical personnel, welcomes the European Parliament stance as working time talks begin. The so called ‘conciliation committee’ process on the working time directive started on Tuesday (17 March). The formal talks, between teams from the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, (...)

European Local Government Workers and Employers send gathering EU leaders local government ‘crisis checklist’

Joint Press Communication: European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) (17 March 2009, Brussels) In advance of the Spring summit, the Social Partners for the local government sector in Europe have sent a 17 point checklist to European leaders. CEMR-EP (Council of European Municipalities and Regions) and EPSU (European Federation of Public Service Unions) issued the list of demands to highlight the positive role local government (...)

EU Commission attacked for continued attempts to ’commercialise water services’ despite mounting evidence

Breaking story on Water Forum outcomes (17 March 2009) At the opening of the World Water Forum this week, European trade unions will present damning evidence of the EU’s water policies. They will demonstrate that the EU drive to commercialise water services is based on a flawed model; "The Commission’s support for private sector involvement in water services is counterproductive and based more on market ideology than fact", said Jan Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary. He continued; (...)