(2 March 2010) The utilities sector is continuing to experience change and restructuring. The unions met to consider a number of these developments.
Some are related to new technologies such as smart meters and smart grids. The contributions of EPSU to the regulators were discussed. The experience of unions with smart meters is diverse. The position on the consultation of the regulators on smart grids will be further considered at the EPSU workshop on this issue 11 March.
Others are (...)
(16 November 2009)
Update: National protest in support of union
http://www.labornotes.org/2009/11/national-work-stoppage-demands-reversal-mexican-power-takeover
(16 october 2009) The Mexican government sent its troops after the electricity trade union SME in Mexico. It dismissed 45000 workers ! EPSU has sent a letter of protest to the government and many affiliated unions have done also.
For background on the conflict: www.world-psi.org or http://www.inteldaily.com or the website (...)
(30 September 2009) The members of the Public Utilities Standing Committee considered the proposed action plan based on the resolution adopted at the 8th EPSU Congress, in June. Intense and lively discussions took place on different aspects of the proposals. The European sector conference for the utilities, climate change, social dialogue in the water sector and health and safety issues in the waste sector triggered important debates in particular. With several suggestions, the action plan (...)
The Public Utilities section of our congress will focus on:
Item 16) Resolution R.7 “Public Utilities” – introduced by Sven Bergelin (pictured), chair of the EPSU Public Utilities Committee - sets out the principles & objectives that EPSU affiliates commit to in relation to public utilities including: affordability, accessibility, high quality, preferably under public ownership and control; mainstreaming of climate change in EU legislation and policy; rejection of continued liberalization of (...)
The state of the municipal utilities and housing sector is rapidly deteriorating and is becoming a break on economic growth, threatens the welfare of citizens and risks throwing the country backwards. The Ukrainian municipal services union has issued a report that details this dire state of affairs. ¼ of the city population lives in houses which are not fit to dwell in any more. Water pipes leak losing up to 80% of water and in many cities the water quality is very poor. 1/3 of the network (...)
(18 May 2009) Trade union representatives reported on the economic and financial crisis and how that affects the energy and waste sector in particular. Declining electricity consumption and less waste affect all companies. Companies are delaying payment of their utility bills. Jobs losses, outsourcing, pay freezes and increased unemployment were reported from all countries. Mistrust in banks, attacks on pensions funds are widespread, but so are protests of workers with mass demonstrations (...)
(23 October 2008, Brussels) Energy and other unions discussed the consequences of the energy and climate change package proposed by the European Commission. One of the core proposals concerns the revision of the Emission Trading Scheme. The Commission has proposed full auctioning of emission rights for the electricity sector. This will have different impacts on the EU Member States depending also on their fuel mix. The social consequences can be positive as well as negative, and it can (...)
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