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EPSU Standing Committee on Public Utilities
Plan of Actions 2014 – 2019
EPSU Congress 2014 resolutions on Utilities and Climate Change
The Utilities work plan builds on previous work done by the Standing Committee Utilities, the Congress resolutions and EPSU’s overall priorities. The aim of the
work plan is to set realistic objectives for short term (2014-2016) and mid term planning (period = till congress 2019), and to provide for flexibility and adjustment
depending on the evolution of policy developments in the EU. The table below should be read in conjunction with the EPSU general work plan. Progress in the
work plan will be discussed in each Standing Committee and adapted when and where ever the Standing Committee thinks it is necessary.
Climate change is the largest single threat to current and future generations. Many are seriously worried about these climate changes, which afflict everybody to
different degrees. It is the poor, particularly in developing countries, who suffer the most as they are the least able to prepare for climate change or to avoid its
consequences. We are reaching the ‘point of no return’ when irreversible changes will take place – or have already taken place – and dominoes will fall, making it
impossible to control future developments. Climate change is attributable to the dominant economic model and the pursuit of profit maximisation and growth at
all costs. EPSU favours the mainstreaming of the fight against climate change in EU policy and legislation, development cooperation and investment decisions
with clear and ambitious targets. Principles of just transition towards a low or even zero carbon society including for workers concerned based on employment
alternatives and training, should be integrated in EU policy. Transition demands massive investments, at national and EU levels, in renewable energy, in energy
efficiency in public workplaces and buildings and in infrastructure. In order to tackle climate change and other environmental problems, EPSU calls for an
immediate “Green New Deal” and for a longer-term “Just Transition” towards sustainable development.
The Utilities sector is a key driver for sustainable development. The sector faces many structural changes due to global developments, regulatory decisions and
technological innovation and also the way public authorities and employers react to these changes. EPSU re-affirms that infrastructure for public services should
be publicly funded and operated. EPSU will work to ensure that public service principles and values are part of European policies on environmental services, such
as water, waste and energy, and advocate for binding targets to reduce energy poverty. Tracking company policies, mergers and take-overs and establishing
further European work councils in cooperation with affiliated unions will be important to promote and defend workers interests in multinational corporations.
This applies as well for multinational corporation in other public services sectors (e.g. Health and Social Services)
EPSU supports the zero emission target for the European power sector by 2050 with legally binding intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040. EPSU will work with
the affiliates in non-EU/EEA countries, such as Russia, Ukraine and others on global warming and climate change to ensure that all European governments
commit to a global agreement for CO2 reductions. EPSU defends water as a public service and supports demands for water as global commons, belonging to
everybody requiring protection and management in the interest of all, and therefore we will fight privatisation of water. The European Citizens Initiative on the
Human Right to Water is a success. The demands of the ECI will be further pursued. The waste sector is part of environmental services and an area of
employment growth. It is confronted with many challenges, including cut throat competition on the basis of pay and working conditions. EPSU aims to represent
the whole chain, i.e. collection, transport, sorting, recycling, incineration in public and private companies.
Aim/ Outcome
Activity
Who
When
Participate in negotiations at company, national or
multinational level.
Promotion of Information and Consultation rights.
Participate in the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee Electricity and promote social dialogue in other Utilities
sectors
Promotion of Transnational Company Agreements (TCA) to
commit companies to respect, protect and promote social
standards (ILO) and workers/union rights
Workshop on CSR (in cooperation with Sectoral Social
Dialogue Committee)
Unions
Period
EPSU and affiliates
Period
SSDC Electricity members
Period
EPSU in coop with ETUC and
ETUFs
Period
Participate in collective bargaining and other negotiations
(TCAs) to safeguard jobs, promote training and maintain
good working condition in the sector
Promote Sectoral Social Dialogue at European, national
and company level.
Support Trade Unions in defending workers rights and
Unions and EPSU
Period
EPSU and Unions in Gas,
Water and Waste services and
SSDC Electricity
Period
Utilities
Ensure that existing
collective bargaining, social
and environmental
standards are maintained
when remunicipalisation
or privatisation takes
place.





Changes in ownership
must not lead to cuts in
jobs and training places,
pay and working
conditions must not



2
SSDC Electricity members
2015-2016
Period
Aim/ Outcome
Activity
deteriorate
Ensure that public service
principles and values are
part of European policies
on environmental services,
such as water, waste and
energy.




Who
When
interests in restructuring processes.
EPSU
Strengthen arguments for the role and missions of public
services.
Explore arguments for public service role (and ownership)
in addressing climate change including in renewables and
networks.
Liaise and cooperate with TUED (Trade Unions for Energy
Democracy) and PSI.
Fight energy poverty and promote ‘right to energy’. Liaise
with NGOs and work in alliances.
EPSU and unions
Period
EPSU and unions
Period
EPSU and unions
2015-2016
EPSU and unions
2015-2016
Campaign for “just transition”. Define what is a just
transition and criteria.
Continue discussion on the appropriate targets for
reduction of CO2 and other green house gas emissions for
2020 until 2050.
Advocate for binding intermediate targets for 2030 and
2040 for the electricity sector (zero emission by 2050)
EPSU keeps following the Energy Roadmap 2050
EPSU and unions
Towards COP 21, (dec
2015, Paris)
Explore arguments for a public service (and ownership)
role in addressing climate change including in renewables
and networks.
EPSU
Climate Change
Ensure principles of just
transition towards a low or
even zero carbon society
including for workers
concerned based on
employment alternatives
and training, are
integrated in EU policy

Recognition of Public
services role in fighting
climate change




3
Energy unions
Unions and EPSU
Period
Period
EPSU
2016
Aim/ Outcome
Activity
Who
When
Binding targets for energy
efficiency


Explore Setting up of a ‘think tank’ on Energy-efficiency.
Develop position on ambitious, feasible targets (country
specific?)
EPSU and unions
2015-2016
Establish position on
carbon tax/ pollution tax

Engage in further work, in cooperation with ETUC, on the
emission trading scheme and energy/ carbon taxes
EPSU and Unions
Period
Green New Deal

Engage in debates “Beyond GDP”, “De-growth”, or “Zerogrowth”.
Develop information on how environmental and climate
change can be addressed at workplace level and through
collective bargaining
EPSU and Unions
Period
Unions and EPSU
Period

Integrate in trade union policies the concept of social and
environmental responsibility of businesses and
administrations.
EPSU and Unions
2015-2016


Participate in the Consultation to Drinking water directive.
Identify possibilities and usefulness of Benchmarking for
quality of water services as means to achieve and improve
quality water services for all.
Support local, national and international struggles of
unions and NGOs against privatisation of water (Greece,
Spain, Portugal, Serbia)
Produce a brochure and report/analysis of ECI campaign
Follow up on uptake of ECI demands in EU Water and
development policies and SDGs (universal access)
EPSU and unions
2014-2015
EPSU and unions
2014-2015
EPSU / PSI and unions
Period
EPSU
2014-2015
EPSU and PSI
2015-2016

Transnational and national
agreements on CSR
/Sustainability
Water
Follow up to the ECI and
fight further privatisation
of water services



4
Aim/ Outcome
Prevent privatisation of
water services
Activity



Who
When
Fight and influence current debate and attempts to
privatise water services in Serbia. (and possibly/ whenever
needed in other non-EU countries.)
Promote Public –Public Partnerships and not-for-profit
cooperation between water operators
Raise awareness of the key role of public water services for
society and support affiliates that oppose privatisation of
water services.
Serbian Unions, EPSU and
Kommunal.
2014-2016
EPSU and PSI
EPSU and Unions
Period
Period
Debunk the myths of a
market ideology in water

Oppose the creation of a market for water rights as well as
any EU attempts to liberalise water services
EPSU and unions
Period
Reflect on Social dialogue
committee in water sector

Approach employer organisations Aqua Publica Europea
and CEEP
EPSU
2015-2016
Work with the affiliates in
non-EU/EEA countries,
such as Russia, Ukraine
and others on global
warming and climate
change to ensure that all
European governments
commit to a global
agreement for CO2
reductions.

Set up meetings in Russia and Ukraine to engage unions in
a joint EPSU unions strategy on energy, energy union and
climate change
Strengthen the voice of trade unions in non-EU countries
(Energy Community)
Mobilise for an ambitious, global agreement on Climate
Change to be achieved in COP 21 in Paris.
EPSU and energy unions
2015
EPSU and affiliated unions
Period
EPSU and affiliated unions
2015
All workers in the energy
sector should benefit from

Advocate for social dimension in Energy policy 2020 and
keep stressing employment and skills.
EPSU
Period
Energy


5
Aim/ Outcome
decent conditions of work
and pay.
Activity


Binding targets to reduce
energy poverty


EPSU Position on Smart
grids
Energy unions
Period
EPSU and energy unions
Period
EPSU and energy unions in
cooperation/alliance with
others (SOS Energie-futur,
Community-Power, EAPN?,
others?)
Period
Period
Lobby for energy poverty to be addressed in the EU Energy
Union

Develop policies on smart networks/grids and their
implications for the sector and its workers.
Promote public infrastructure for electric vehicles.
EPSU and Unions
Period
Improve the quality of the sectoral social dialogue and
dialogue with multinational companies.
Mainstream Social Dialogue in EU Energy Union
EPSU and Unions
Period
Engage in Energy Community; participate in the Permanent
High Level Group (PHLG) when possible and promote
Trade Union participation
Start dialogue with employers in the region
EPSU and energy unions
Period
Unions in Energy Community
Period


Strengthen the voice of
unions in the Energy
Community and in CIS
countries
Promote “Right to Energy”. Continue work on fuel/energy
poverty and ensure the right to energy for all, which is a
societal responsibility.
Explore a “right2energy” alliance
When


Enhanced Social Dialogue
http://www.epsu.org/a/6606
Improve working conditions, health and safety for workers
in the renewables, such as wind power, solar industries
(production), energy efficiency/savings services but also in
subcontracted areas.
Develop a general bargaining agenda for the energy
unions, and improve regional and EU-wide coordination.
Who


6
EPSU and Unions
Period
EPSU
Aim/ Outcome
Re-establish Social
Dialogue in Gas sector
Activity
Who

Continue the Energy Roundtable

Exchange experiences with the affiliated unions in CIS
countries (Russia and Central Asia)

When
countries
Unions in CIS countries and
EPSU
Period
EPSU and energy (gas) unions
2014 – 2016
EPSU and IndustriAll and
unions
2014-2016

Convince/ persuade employers in the gas sector for a
social dialogue.
Build Trade Union side for Social Dialogue in Gas

Organise a seminar on Gas
EPSU and ‘gas’ unions


Update the Basic Principles for EPSU’s Waste policy
In supporting resource efficiency EPSU will advocate
employment creation, green jobs, skills/ training, health
and safety
EPSU
Period
EPSU
Period


Engage in stakeholder meetings and events
Organise a “waste” (circular economy) seminar
EPSU and affiliates in waste
Period
EPSU
2015

Discuss the modalities, issues and strategy to follow
EPSU and Waste unions
Period

New approaches to MWE and FEAD
EPSU
2015 – 2016
2016?
Waste
Resource efficient society/
Circular Economy
Make progress towards
the objective of
establishing a social
dialogue in waste
7
Aim/ Outcome
Activity
Who
When
European Works Councils / Transnational Corporations
Establish European Works
Councils in Multinational in
Health and Social services
MNCs

Target MNCs in Social services to start up a process to set
up an SNB and EWC and discuss strategy with affiliates
EPSU and affiliates active in
Social Services MNCs
2015-2016
Spanish Multinationals in
water/waste are covered
by an EWC

Promote EWCs in Spanish unions and cooperate with the
Spanish unions to get process started
EPSU and affiliates in Spain
and countries concerned
2015-2016
More and better
Transnational Company
Agreements


Cooperate with ETUC
Engage in discussion with MNCs and affiliates on issues for
TCAs
EPSU and affiliates
2015-2016
EPSU and affiliates
Period
More and stronger EWCs
in EPSU sectors


Promote setting up of EWCs in MNCs that qualify
Strive for a coordinator for each EWC and promote union
cooperation in MNCs
Support to EWCs and EWC members
EPSU
Period
EPSU and unions
Period
EPSU and unions
Period
Cooperation with unions concerned (Spanish, German,
Swedish and other)
Inform and convince employers in MNCs of EWC directive
and importance of EWC for continuity
EPSU and affiliates concerned
Period
EPSU and unions concerned
Period

European works councils in
major multinational waste
companies


8