EPSU Work in Local and Regional Government

I. Economic Crisis in Europe

Economic Crisis – Background Governments poured in billions as saving measures (banks, social security…) Lax regulation; Corporate greed; Privatisation of Public services removes stability from the economy; Inequalities have risen Public services are used to balance the books - many years of austerity to be expected Impact on nurses, teachers, firefighters, refuse collectors, child care workers, prison officers, police, tax inspectors, customs officers, administrators, and cultural workers Women in public services – likely increase of gender pay gap as a further result of outsourcing, undoing recent progress

The wrong target – how governments are making public sector workers pay for the crisis EPSU report 2010 Report examines Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Spain Repeated cuts – often the first round of cuts insufficient and pay is reduced again and again; Elimination or reduction of bonuses and additional payments Attempts to protect the lower paid – cuts more for the higher paid, although the lower paid also lose pay; The cuts linked to attempts to reform the pay system; The cuts are normally imposed rather than agreed with the unions Centrally decided pay cuts Attacks on TU union rights – Romanian Trade unions – ILO, EP, CoE

Economic Crisis – What to do? Address inequalities, macro-economic imbalances, greed and strengthen the public services Financial Transaction Tax at EU level; Wealthy; Tax Justice System of Eurobonds (see ETUC) EU investment programme (1% of GDP) in infrastructure, low carbon economy Respect autonomy of the social partners and increase coverage by collective agreements Address precarious work and low pay Work with other groups – coalition building Analyse National Reform programmes EPSU Economic Policy and public sector networks

Next Steps Coordinated European trade union mobilization against austerity policies – Challenge EU policy focus on budget consolidation through cuts in public spending Promote discussion on fairer taxation systems Pressure EU institutions to use ‘positive’ Treaty provisions on ‘Social Europe’ - public services, fundamental rights, sustainable development Council of Global Unions Conference: A Global Agenda for Quality Public Services, Geneva, 23 June 2011 ETUC Congress, Athens, 16 – 19 May 2011 European Action Day, 21 June 2011

ETUC 21 June ETUC 9 April EPSU 15 December ETUC 29 September EPSU 18 April

II. The EPSU Agenda

Executive Committee Recent topics on agenda included: Austerity policies Financial Transaction Tax Working time directive ETUC Congress PSI Congress, Durban, South Africa, 27 – 30 November 2012, Constitutional review, future Programme of Action

Local and Regional Government : In the standing Committee – impact of economic crisis, care services for older people (with HSS), public procurement and PPPs, climate change, lobbying (with NEA) In the social dialogue with CEMR: joint statement with the on the economic crisis stressing the need for ‘socially just taxation’, ‘social procurement (EC ‘Buying Social’ Guide), life long learning and skills Firefighters network: together with ETUI brochure on health and safety issues Survey on cultural sector (with NEA) Conference local government 2012

National and European Administration Cuts in state sector EPSU tax justice charter for fair and progressive taxation as part of the alternatives to the cuts - campaign on FTT Migration policy, public services and migrant workers rights: EPSU survey, 2010 Prison services network Survey on labour inspectors, also in light of the cuts in public services EU Social Dialogue Committee in central government administration responding to Commission’s initiatives affecting central administrations; improving image of civil service and attractivity; responding to the austerity measures commitment to improve social dialogue incl. collective bargaining at national level Conference National administration 2013

Women’s and Gender Equality Committee Meets once a year, next meeting on 3-4 May + ad hoc meetings e.g. training session with the ETUI on improving women’s pay 17& 18 Nov 2011 EPSU/SKTF report on women’s representation in EPSU and affiliates, 2010 (membership and leadership positions) Gender equality mainstreaming Equal pay survey: regular updates Sectoral social dialogue: gender equality in running work programmes of NEA, LRG (guidelines on equality plans) Impact of austerity measures on women and gender equality : survey in 4 countries + debate on 3 May EPSU representation on ETUC Women’s Committee

EPSU Collective Bargaining Network Regular newsletter and collective bargaining reports; More contacts for the network – monitoring collective bargaining developments – all countries - collect reliable data on public sector pay – responding to European Commission and International Monetary Fund – contact details to: - improve flow of news from Central and Eastern European trade unions Equal pay survey ( examples of EPSU affiliates closing gender pay gap. Responses – update information - two Congress resolutions to implement. Survey is available in 17 languages WISUTIL pay in energy, waste, water. Individual workers to complete online questionnaires – details 18 languages

EPSU Public Services Network Established after EPSU Congress members per Constituency + ‘Experts’ by theme – more nominations welcome! Place to discuss ‘horizontal’ public services issues in order to: Influence EU legislation and policy (internal and external dimension) Coordinate/maximise EPSU ‘quality public services’ (QPS) strategies and campaigns Link with PSI/global unions QPS campaign In 2011 focus on public procurement (Green Paper) and launch of ‘public services monitor’ – short stories welcome!

NameStructureUnionCountry PISAROVA TerezieYouthCMKOSCzech Republic PAZDEROVA LudmilaYouthSOZZASSSlovakia SALATA LiborYouthECHOZSlovakia VONDROVÁ AlenaLRGSTATORGCzech Republic SZABÓ EtaLRGHVDSZ 2000Hungary ÁDÁM RóbertLRG VKDSZ Hungary KRIŠTOFIČOVÁ MáriaLRG SOZKASO Slovakia PETROVIČ DanielLRG FFSR Slovakia VONDROVÁ AlenaNEA STATORG Czech Republic FOLDIÁK András NEA KKDSZ Hungary CSER Ágnes NEA EDDSZ Hungary JAVORKOVÁ Zuzana NEA FFSR Slovakia ŠKULAVÍK Peter NEA SOZKaSO Slovakia Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary in LRG, NEA, Youth

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