Europe

The Turkish Union of Road, Construction and Building Workers (YOL-İŞ), a PSI affiliate, organised an action on 28 January in protest at the non-execution of the decision taken by the Supreme Court of Appeal which proved that “service procurement agreements between the General Directorate of Highways and sub-contracting companies are fictitious”.

Ireland is shouldering the biggest bank debt burden in the European Union.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is organising a rally on 9th February, calling on the EU to do a deal on Irish bank debt.

The Federation of Health Workers' Unions, PSI's affiliate in Kosovo, is campaigning against proposed legislation that conflicts with the Kosovo Parliament's anti-discrimination law, labour law and law on prevention of conflict of interest. Health workers in the country held a warning protest in November and presented a petition signed by 6,000 health workers. Health Law no 04/L-125 is now before the Consititutional Court of Kosovo. PSI calls upon the Constitutional Court to give full and due consideration of the brief of FSSHK, as well as to the views submitted at the public hearing.

On 22 January, 11 countries, including four of the biggest economies in Europe, agreed to implement a financial transactions tax. The new leader of the global union federation Public Services International, Rosa Pavanelli, welcomes this initiative: “Fair taxation is key to the equitable redistribution of wealth. We believe the funds raised from such a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ should be used to support sustainable jobs, tackle poverty and inequality, make public services such as healthcare accessible to all, and strengthen the global fight against climate change. An FTT will also help to curb runaway financial speculation.”

The German public TV show, Monitor, has produced an interesting piece on water privatisation threats in Europe.