European Federation of Public Service Unions

EPSU supports public investment and well-funded publicly owned services. EPSU opposes budget cuts, liberalisation, austerity, low pay and poor working conditions. In 2017, EPSU initiated a campaign called "Time for Social Europe" and called on the European Commission to limit precarious jobs and social dumping.

In June 2018, EPSU introduced a court case in the European Court of Justice demanding that the European Commission to withdraw its opposition to the agreement between EPSU and its employers.. The case EPSU (the European Federation of Public Service Unions) brought against the European Commission ([https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-928/19 case C-928/19P]) was first resolved by the EU General Court on 24 October 2019{{Cite web |last=EU General Court |title=T-310/18 - EPSU and Goudriaan v Commission |url=https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf;jsessionid=4D4F636E007919841F2BF70728B90685?num=T-310/18&language=en |access-date=19 August 2022}} in favour of the commission. EPSU appeal and it was finally resolved in September 2021 giving a major blow to the EU social dialogue as the court upholds the right of initiative of the Commission against article 154 and 155 of Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

The social partner agreement on workers and trade union rights to information and consultation on matters such as restructuring was adopted{{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Sectoral social dialogue - Central government administrations |url=https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=480&langId=en&intPageId=1821 |access-date=19 August 2022}} in December 2015 by Trade Unions’ National and European Administration Delegation (TUNED){{Cite web |last=European Commission |title=Sectoral social dialogue - Central government administrations |url=https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=480&langId=en&intPageId=1821 |access-date=19 August 2022}} on the trade union side and European Public Administration Employers, the employer organisation for central government administrations, not affiliated to any of the cross-sectoral employers’ organisations (Business Europe and SGI Europe).

The European Commission rejected the agreement in March 2018.{{Cite web |last=Court of Justice of the European Union |title=Appeal by EPSU: the Commission is not bound to give effect to the social partners' request seeking implementation, at EU level, of the agreement that they have concluded |url=https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2021-09/cp210151en.pdf |access-date=19 August 2022}}

In 2010, EPSU negotiated an agreement with HOSPEEM,{{cite news |last1=HOSPEEM |title=Who we are |url=https://hospeem.org/about/whoweare |access-date=12 October 2021}} the European health sector employer's organisation, on the management of sharp objects.{{cite news |last1=EPSU |title=Framework Agreement on Prevention from Sharp Injuries in the Hospital and Health Care Sector |url=https://www.epsu.org/article/framework-agreement-prevention-sharp-injuries-hospital-and-health-care-sector |access-date=12 October 2021}} EPSU promotes improvements in pay for health and social services employees.{{cite news |last1=The Times |title=How Europe has nursed its frontline staff with bonuses |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/how-europe-has-nursed-its-frontline-staff-with-bonuses-rbvm7k7cx |access-date=12 October 2021}}

EPSU recruits and organises trade unions in health and social services and represents trade unions organising nurses, health care assistants, midwives, doctors, elderly and child care workers, social workers, laboratory staff, hospital cleaners and medical secretaries in public, non-for-profit and private services across Europe.{{Cite web|title=Search {{!}} EPSU|url=https://www.epsu.org/search?f%5B0%5D=policies:58&f%5B1%5D=sectors:86|access-date=2021-11-09|website=www.epsu.org}} In April 2021, EPSU and the Social Employers jointly applied for a new social dialogue structure in social services at the European level.{{Cite web|last=European Commission|date=26 April 2021|title=Feedback from: Social Employers and EPSU: Joint Contribution|url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12743-EU-action-plan-for-social-economy/F2242244_en}}

EPSU is the most representative organisation of professional firefighters in Europe{{Cite web |last=EuroFound |title=Industrial relations landscape in Europe |url=https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/default/files/ef_publication/field_ef_document/ef20018en.pdf |access-date=22 August 2022}} and has been campaigning with its affiliates, like Fire Brigades Union, for better working conditions and for more staff in light of the current climate crisis and droughts. The EPSU firefighters’ network is one of the most active one of the organisation.{{Cite web |last=Limb |first=Lottie |date=2022-08-07 |title=Burnout: Firefighters look back on July's 'gamechanging' heatwave |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/08/07/death-divorce-and-depression-firefighters-on-the-frontline-of-europes-climate-crisis |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=euronews |language=en}}

EPSU was the backbone of the first successful European Citizens Initiative (ECI) Right2Water that collected 1,680,172 validated signatures. The ECI was called "Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!"{{Cite web |title=Initiative detail {{!}} European Citizens' Initiative |url=https://europa.eu/citizens-initiative/initiatives/details/2012/000003_en |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=europa.eu}}

The European Commission replied to the ECI with a communication and the European Parliament drafted a report that was very critical of the reply of the commission.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-29 |title=EU citizens' initiative under fire in European parliament report |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/eu-citizens-initiative-under-fire-in-european-parliament-report |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=The Parliament Magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Initiative detail {{!}} European Citizens' Initiative |url=https://europa.eu/citizens-initiative/initiatives/details/2012/000003_en |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=europa.eu}} The rapporteur was Lynn Boylan MEP.

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Category:European trade union federations

Category:International and regional union federations