EU: “crisis” meeting of the EPSU’s “public services” committee

Gap between wages and profits. The EPSU thinks the economic crisis is only a pretext for wage cuts since losses in the energy sectors cannot be measured yet. The union drew a report showing the gap between wages and profits in the sector. In gas and energy, 300,000 jobs were cut over 10 years, partly because of liberalization the EPSU thinks. Yet, since 2001-02, profits increased of 40% for the German RWE, 300% for the Austrian Verbund, while EDF’s income was multiplied by 10 between 2002 and 2007. On the contrary, about one third of wages was cut in the sector’s ten largest businesses, except for Iberdrola in Spain. Finally, the committee pointed out that the disproportion between wage cuts and increased dividends was particularly high at EDF: dividends went from €208 to €3,170 million between 2003 and 2007 while wages went from 2,5000 to 200%. In other businesses, while figures are less spectacular, they reveal the same trend: at RWE, it went from 984 to 185%; from 400% to 63% at Verbund; and from 684% to 143% at the German EON.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

in the energy sectors cannot be measured yet. The union drew a report showing the gap between wages and profits in the sector. In gas and energy, 300,000 jobs were cut over 10 years, partly because of liberalization the EPSU thinks. Yet, since 2001-02, profits increased of 40% for the German RWE, 300% for the Austrian Verbund, while EDF’s income was multiplied by 10 between 2002 and 2007. On the contrary, about one third of wages was cut in the sector’s ten largest businesses, except for Iberdr

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Seven major companies offer training to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence
L’Oréal, Engie, LVMH, Publicis, Accor and Orange are encouraging their staff to take part in the Safe Spaces training programme on domestic and sexual violence, developed by insurance...
10 November 2025
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...