European Federation of Public Service Unions

[Big Daz]

http://www.epsu.org/a/4805" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Over 100 election candidates already signed up to ‘public service pledge
as Public Service Unions ask: this June will your Euro candidate protect your essential services?

(22 March 2009, Brussels) This week saw the European Election campaign to get candidates to sign a ‘public service pledge’ pass the 100 mark. There are now 101 contenders for the election, from 18 EU countries, already signed up. The campaign interactive map of Europe shows who.

Already ‘pledged’ are; European Parliament Socialist (PES) Group leader, Martin Schulz MEP, head of the European Greens Monica Frassoni MEP, and leader of the Party of European Socialists Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP

Events to ensure candidates sign up in the other 9 Member States are being instigated by national public service trade unions. This effort is being coordinated by the European Federation of Public Service Trade Unions (EPSU).

“We expect to have candidates signing up in all EU member states”, stated EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel. She added that; “in the current financial climate, the need for quality public services - providing essential services - should be apparent to all. Through this innovative modern campaign, we are highlighting the need for a strong pro-public EU agenda”.

Europe is on our doorstep

The campaign aims to show voters in the European elections that Europe is no longer ‘too far away to care about’. This June, local issues are the election, such as healthcare remaining equal for all; affordable energy and; fair working time, so that workers are not exploited in the current climate. The European Parliament will take major decisions on these and other issues in its next term.

The Public Service Pledge (available in 23 languages) is designed to:

Make public service workers aware how important this election is Help them identify candidates who will support public services Provide a platform for those supporters to show how they will continue to support public service issues in the next European Parliament Ensure a strong progressive agenda for Europe’s public services

Statistics, available from the specially designed interactive map show that 75% of those signed up are from the Socialist group, with 20% coming from the European Green/EFA party.

For more info please contact Brian Synnott (EPSU communications officer) +32 474 98 96 75 or bsynnott@epsu.org

ends-

"EPSU is the European Federation of Public Service Unions. It is the largest federation of the ETUC. 8 million public service workers from over 200 trade unions are members. They organise workers in the energy, water and waste sectors, health and social services and local and national administration ".