The European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) unites trade unions and trade union organisations in Europe with a total of more than 5 million individual affiliates. Founded in 1990 and based in Brussels, CESI advocates improved employment conditions for workers in Europe and a strong social dimension in the EU. CESI’s particular strength lies in the public sector but CESI also represents private sector workers. Most of CESI’s affiliates are employed in the fields of central, regional and local administration, security and justice, education, training and research, healthcare, postal services and telecommunications, defence and transport services. CESI and its members are involved in advocacy work as an interest group and in social dialogue as a recognised European social partner, being a part of several EU-level sectoral social dialogue committees.