The social dialogue activities for this year have already got underway, with joint EPSU/CEMR working group meetings taking place on January 12 and January 13. This note gives a short update.
EPSU/CEMR human resources working group
A number of ideas and suggestions were put on the table based on both EU and national and initiatives. These addressed both HR systems and particular issues such as life long learning/skills development, gender equality, and ageing workforce. The working group agreed that it would be useful to organise a joint workshop in the autumn where practical examples of good HR practices would be presented and discussed. The focus should be on how the quality of work, efficiency, and attractiveness of the sector is improved by such practices (minutes).
EPSU/CEMR study on social dialogue in the new member states and candidate countries
On January 13th the first working group met to oversee the social dialogue study on social dialogue in local and regional government in the 10 new Member States and 3 candidate countries . The study will be coordinated by Tina Weber and Francesca Froy from Ecotec . The working group discussed in detail the framework for the first phase of the study and Ecotec will now prepare a questionnaire based on discussions that will be circulated shortly. Information from all 13 countries will be collected during the next few months from EPSU and CEMR affiliates and other sources.
Next meeting of the EPSU/CEMR social dialogue steering group
The social dialogue Steering Group will meet next on March 2. This meeting will replace the working group scheduled on this date to discuss the follow-up to the telework joint statement and implementation of the European agreement on this issue. This is because we think that it is still a little bit too early to discuss telework. As well as following up the human resources working group which met on January 12 (and agreeing how best to deal with telework follow-up) the Steering Group will prepare the programme for the joint workshop on employment, scheduled for May 19 in Brussels.
Next meetings of the LRG Standing Committee
The next meeting of the Standing Committee is due to take place in May. Given that the social dialogue employment workshop takes place on May 19 in Brussels, we propose to organise the Standing Committee the day before; on May 18, also in Brussels. Linking the Standing Committee meeting to the social dialogue workshop means that travel costs for up to 25 EPSU representatives can be reimbursed. Further details will follow shortly, but please put these dates in your agenda.
The date for the November meeting of the standing committee is also confirmed and this will take place on either November 7 or November 8, in Brussels.
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