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Europe

Eastern Europe

On 1 May 2004 8 countries from Central and Eastern Europe joined the European Union ending the historic division of Europe since the Cold War. However, a number of Eastern European countries remain outside the EU, and unless we are careful we risk creating a new division in Europe between a rich and stable EU and a poor and isolated Eastern fringe. That is why UNISON is working to highlight the problems these countries face and to assist unions in these countries. Here you can find more information about Serbia-Montenegro and Belarus.

Trade unions in Serbia and Montenegro

Trade union rights in Belarus

European Union

Legislation from the European Union is increasingly important for British workers effecting all aspects of our working lives from working hours and annual leave, health and safety in the workplace, maternity leave and the rights of part-time workers. Legislation on the European single market is also beginning to have an impact on the way public services are organised and delivered.

UNISON works hard to protect our members interests when EU legislation is proposed through close work with the European Public Services Union (EPSU), UNISON MEPs, the European Commission, European Parliament and through British ministers in the Council of Ministers.

UNISON/Ver.di co-operation

In October 2004 UNISON signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ver.di, the biggest union in Germany. The two unions, whose members are largely recruited from public service providers, believe that they have a great deal in common and that by working more closely together they can considerably enhance the conditions of workers in both the private and public sector.

The two unions will also work more closely on a range of policy issues, particularly at the European level and intend to undertake joint action in a number of transnational companies engaged in the provision of public services where the two unions have members.

The first joint activity was a seminar at the European Social Forum held in London in October 2004. Since then the Greater London Region of UNISON and the Berlin-Brandenburg Region of Ver.di have formally twinned and other regions are looking to do the same.

In April 2005 the two unions organised a seminar on the Future of Public Services in Europe in London.

Future of public services
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