Dear members, colleagues, friends and partners of CESI,

This morning, on my walk to the office (NB: Despite the local telework obligations, I must go there occasionally to keep things running) I passed by one of my favourite restaurants – well, one of my favourites in the past. Now it´s closed. As it seems not temporarily. A big banner had been placed in front of it “Le télétravail nous a tué!”. Telework killed us. In my office, I opened the newspaper I had bought on the way. Headline: “Wann hört das endlich auf?“ When will this finally end?

A Brussels Court has recently declared all Corona measures of the Belgian government as unlawful. The response from the Belgian Health Minister: “I am not impressed.”

Never-ending lockdowns, travel bans and curfews are the new normal. Previously self-evident freedoms the exception. And as I wrote recently, we must be continue to stand for democratic principles and fundamental rights. As citizens. As trade unions.

And more than this. In the past weeks, CESI has been focussing on sustainable health services, the implementation of the Pillar of Social Rights, investments in resilient public services, the future of work and mental health (when will this finally end?).

Regarding sustainable health services -and in light of the recent World Health Day- we have yet again brought forward our key demands: more investments in national health care systems, with more flexibility under the EU’s fiscal rules and public deficit criteria, a common aim for a ratio of healthcare professionals per X inhabitants, as well as, importantly, an adapted focus on EU health, cohesion, and neighboring policies.

We have stressed again the need for more investments, not only in health systems but in public services at large. Following the publication of study of the European Policy Centre (EPC) on this matter earlier this year in February, developed in cooperation with CESI, we have held and will hold further public events and internal meetings for members to drive the policy agenda on this matter.

In advance of the EU Social Summit in Porto on May 7, we are gearing up for a social media campaign and the launch of a resolution with priorities for a proper implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights in the Member States. Stay tuned for news later this month!

On the topic of future of work, we organised a highly publicised CESI@noon together with the Bertelsmann Foundation further work within CESI, among other a CESI@noon event. In our dedicated working group on the subject, a discussion paper on the regulation of telework in a post-pandemic world is being finalised. The working groups aims to finalise its paper during the next weeks. More news to follow on this too.

The worrying trends regarding citizens´ and workers´ mental health were discussed in a recent CESI@home, attended by various CESI members and affiliates. It showed to what extent mental health has to be tackled in a determined manner and remains a key topic for health and safety, especially during times of a pandemic. We will follow the subject in more detail in the future.

In terms of organisation, CESI´s Presidium has now established new commissions and expert commissions for the coming mandate. The commissions ‘Women’s Rights and Gender Equality’ (FEMM) and Commission on ‘Employment and Social Affaires’ (SOC) will tackle horizontal issues. Sector-related expert commissions, as our previous trade councils have been re-named, will deal with ‘Defence’ (DEF), ‘Education, Training and Research’ (EDUC)’, ‘Public Administrations’ (PA), ‘Post & Telecom’ (P&T) and ‘Health’ (SAN). The nominated chairs and vice-chairs of these internal commissions will now coordinate the activities – with the full support of the secretariat.

Finally, something to celebrate: Please check our new website, just launched. And please give us feedback!

Take care of yourself – and keep the spirit!

Photo credit Travis Wise on Flickr