The ETUC opposes the further liberalisation and commercialisation of public services, which should be universally accessible and affordable for all. We insist on the public provision of high-quality healthcare, education, child and elderly care, training and employment services, transport, water, waste and other vital services. Investment in public services also promotes women's participation in the workforce.
Nurses' pay deal recognises Covid-19 service
The Finnish trade unions Tehy and SuPer have reached an agreement with municipal employers covering pay developments over five years, Covid-19 compensation payments and other improvements to working conditions. The average salary in the health and social services sector will increase by at least 17.3% over five years, with an increase of 15.3% in the first three years. Workers who were involved in treating Covid-19 patients will get a separate one-off payment of €600. It will bring nurses' average monthly pay to over €3,000.
Commission right to propose more and better care services and jobs
Commenting on the European Commission's Care Strategy published today, Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said "The Commission is right to propose that care services should be expanded, be made more accessible and affordable and of higher quality. This is particularly important because of our ageing population and the cost-of-living crisis that is pushing millions of working people into poverty. "More and more families need quality care services for all people in need whether in early childhood, in old-age or for persons with disabilities."
A framework for public service teleworking
Trade unions in Ireland have agreed with the country's Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on a new framework for remote working, allowing civil servants to apply for 'blended' arrangements combining home and office working.
Covid bonus for Irish workers
Ireland's largest public service trade union Forsa has welcomed the government's €1,000 tax-free award for workers who dealt with the Covid pandemic, in recognition of their hard work and sacrifices. Ireland is also creating an additional annual public holiday and reducing working time for public service workers to pre-austerity levels. From 1 July 2022, full-time public servants will return to the 35-hour week that applied before 2013, when austerity measures were introduced in response to the 2008-09 economic and financial crisis.
Social Economy Action Plan modest but useful
The European Commission's Action Plan to boost the social economy to be an useful initiative for a under-appreciated and often-neglected sector says the ETUC. Liina Carr, ETUC Confederal Secretary said "The social economy accounts for 10% of the EU's GDP and includes many cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, not for profit organisations as well as enterprises.
Swiss referendum result backs nurses
By a large majority, Swiss citizens have voted in favour of a trade union-backed initiative calling for better care provision and improved working conditions for health and social workers. In the referendum, which took place on 28 November, 61% of voters supported the 'Care Initiative' (Pflegeinitiative) demanding more government support for health services. At present in Switzerland there are 11,700 nursing vacancies, and a further 70,000 new nurses will be needed by 2029. In addition, 4 out of 10 nurses leave their job early.
Collective agreements reward workers in social and public services
Trade unions in Lithuania have negotiated a good deal for workers in social and public services. The new collective agreement in social services brings a significant increase in minimum monthly pay, from €642 to €730, while working hours will be cut by one hour a week. Trade union members covered by the agreement will get an extra day's leave after 10 years' service.
Support for public energy supply
French energy unions and their allies are celebrating the government's withdrawal of its plan to break up the majority state-owned energy company EDF and are calling for energy supply to be a public service. Trade unions opposed the government proposal to restructure and split up the national public company Électricité de France, imposing a neo-liberal model that would undermine public energy supply. They warned that workers and consumers would be the victims of price increases and job losses.
27.08.2021 Document
Solidarity with Turkish unions on public service pay
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) have followed closely the collective bargaining rounds in the Turkish public sector, informed throughout by our affiliates.
Cross-border cooperation to save public services
Turkish and Dutch trade unions are working together to defend their countries' public services. At an online meeting in May, union leaders discussed how outsourcing, privatisation and commercialisation are affecting their public services, and what trade unions can do to prevent privatisation, or to bring services back into public ownership.
Italian unions sign new agreement with Red Cross
Italy's public service unions - Fp CGIL, CISL Fp and UIL Fpl - have signed a new three-year agreement with the Red Cross, running until 2022. It brings a pay increase of around 4.5%, as well as a number of other benefits.
New collective agreement for municipal workers in Finland
A new collective agreement reached at the end of May will cover thousands of municipal workers in Finland, including teachers, nurses and other healthcare workers, many of whom have been on the front line fighting the coronavirus epidemic.
Pay rise for public service workers in Croatia
Public service unions in Croatia have reached an agreement with the government on higher pay, plus a supplement for workers in the education sector. "After a longer period of negotiations we have decided to sign the annex to the Basic Collective Agreement and we must express our satisfaction," said Anica Prašnjak, president of the nurses' union. "The negotiations were not simple, they were demanding, however we did find a compromise solution. We have accepted it so that our people, after a certain number of years, can enjoy higher basic pay in 2020."
Norway: pensions and pay victory for health workers
Unions in the Norwegian health sector, including Fagforbundet, YS and unions represented by LO Stat, are celebrating a historic victory following a positive ruling by the National Wages Board. It means that pensions will now be based on all earnings, ensuring that part-time workers will be entitled to a pension for the first time. The Board also confirmed a pay rise meaning that all workers will benefit from an increase already agreed for nursing staff. It was the government that took the issue to the National Wages Board in the summer.
Across-the-board pay rise for Czech public sector
The Czech government has approved funding for a pay increase for public sector workers, negotiated with trade unions in September. It will bring a flat rate CZK 1,500 (€59) salary increase, meaning on average a 7% rise, taking effect on 1 January 2020.
Employers and unions urge dialogue on social services
Progress towards social dialogue on social services took a step forward this summer with a meeting between European trade unions and employers in the sector. The European Public Service Union (EPSU) met with the Federation of Social Employers to discuss better working conditions offering greater dignity to the 10 million social service workers across Europe.
Pay deal recognises firefighters' commitment
Part-time firefighters in Sweden have won big gains in pay and allowances. The Kommunal municipal workers' union has secured a collective agreement that recognises the importance of this group of workers and the massive challenges they have faced recently as a result of widespread forest fires.
French multinational to set up European Works Council
French care provider Korian has reached a deal with trade unions on setting up a European Works Council. It will be the first EWC in the sector of care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The groundbreaking agreement comes after months of negotiations and opens the way for further deals in this growing sector. Korian is a major player in social care with over 52,000 workers in six European countries.
Municipal workers win major pay boost
Workers in the municipality of Dobrich in Bulgaria celebrated May Day 2019 in style, with a pay rise negotiated by local trade unions. The framework agreement between the municipality of Dobrich and CITUB Dobrich means an increase in the incomes of workers in specialist areas designated by the state and the local authority.
Major pay boost for Spanish state workers
After a three-year wait, public service branches of the ETUC's Spanish affiliates CCOO and UGT have won a new deal on pay and conditions for 40,000 workers in central government administration. The previous Spanish government had refused to negotiate. The agreement brings an overall wage increase of 14% for the lowest paid employees, covering the three years 2018-2020.
Norway recognises workers' experience at home
Carers and migrant workers are among the groups benefitting from collective agreements secured by the Fagforbundet public services union in Norway. The union is working to ensure that pay for staff in municipal services, including childcare, fully respects their qualifications and experience, including care responsibilities in the family. This could mean up to six years' extra service related pay and seniority: a salary boost of some NOK 40,000.
Unions defend public ownership of water
The public service workers' trade union in Switzerland, VPOD, has campaigned with civil society organisations to preserve public access to water and other essential services in Zurich. 54.6% of citizens in the Zurich canton voted in a referendum in February against a government plan to allow partial privatisation of water utilities and give private landowners a greater say over the management of rivers and lakeshores.
Immigrant service workers launch European network
Although recent Italian government policies have driven refugees away from the country's shores, nonetheless over 22,000 people have already arrived by sea this year.
Difficult delivery for maternity nurses' deal on pay and conditions
Dutch unions FNV and NU'91 have secured a new collective agreement offering 9,000 maternity nurses a 5.75% pay rise over two years, with 10% increases in the first two years of employment, to make the job more attractive to young workers.
Ms Liina CARR
Confederal Secretary
Ms Marina MONACO
Mrs Emmanuella YETNA
Administrative Assistant To Liina Carr