11 epsucob@NEWS 5 June 2006

Spain - Unions welcome progress on basic statute

Public service unions in Spain have welcomed the latest steps in agreeing a new draft statute covering the rights of around 2.5 million public sector workers. The basic statute has set out the main employment rights of public sector workers for over 25 years and for the last two years unions have been negotiating important changes. The new statute will enshrine the right to collective bargaining, include measures to reduce the use of temporary contracts as well as recognising the need for achieving a better work-life balance. Once agreed in parliament the new law should take effect in the first half of 2007. Read more at > FSAP-CCOO And at > FSP-UGT

Portugal - Further action over government policies

The STAL public administration union has organised a month of action in protest at government plans for the public services and attacks on the rights of public service workers. The union acknowledges that some changes need to be made in public administration but argues for a process of modernisation not destruction. It will organise weekly vigils outside the council of ministers and will distribute publicity material to highlight its arguments among the electorate. Read more at > STAL Meanwhile the SINTAP public service union is planning a week of action between 18 and 25 June which also focuses on the government’s reforms and its failure to properly negotiate changes with the unions. SINTAP will organise a vigil outside the prime minister’s offices and is planning a series of regional activities. Read more at > SINTAP

Ireland - National agreement includes 10% pay increase over 27 months

The pay element of the national agreement between the Irish social partners has been finalised with workers set to get a 10% pay increase over the next 27 months. Public servants and staff in non-commercial semi-state bodies will get 3% on 1 December 2006, 2% on 1 June 2007, 2.5% on 1 March 2008 and 2.5% on 1 September 2008. Lower paid workers (those on €10.25 an hour or less) will get an extra 0.5%. As before, workers and unions must co-operate with modernisation and change measures to qualify for the increases. Read more at > IMPACT

Denmark - Federation launches website for migrant workers

LO, the Danish trade union confederation, has launched a new website to provide information to help trade unionists ensure that migrant workers get the pay, conditions and other rights to which they are entitled. The website will include information on how Danish unions are fighting against illegal work and for the extension of collective agreements. It also highlights how Danish unions are working with trade union organisations in Central and Eastern Europe. Read more at > LO

Poland - Healthcare workers protest over low pay

The EIRO industrial relations observatory reports that healthcare workers organised a national demonstration in April to support their demand for a 30% pay increase. Although the government has not rejected demands for higher pay completely it argues that its 2006 budget doesn’t allow for any increase and so any possibility for higher pay will have to wait until 2007. Read more at > EIRO

Bulgaria - Unions take action over low pay

Affiliates of the CITUB federation organised a national demonstration at the end of May in protest at low pay and restrictions on the right to strike. The demonstration was targeted in particular at the government and employers in the health, energy, local transport and telecommunications sectors. Read more at > EPSU

Finland - Prison workers strike over job cuts

Prison guards and other personnel took three hours of strike action on 18 May in protest at government plans to cut personnel by over 10%. They are particularly concerned about the health and safety implications of the job cuts.

Belgium - Unions strike over privatisation threat

EPSU affiliated unions CGSP, CSC Services Publics and SLPF are on strike in municipal electricity company Interelectra. They are protesting at plans to set up a private sector umbrella holding company which would mean that the public character of the company and the public character of the statute will disappear. The unions are fighting for democratic control by the municipality, public service obligations in public hands and oppose that 75 years of work is thrown away. Read more at > EPSU

UK - Union signs new agreement with major public service contractor

The PCS public services union has signed a new national agreement with Capita a company that is contracted to provide a wide range of government services. The agreement covers learning and training, employee involvement and a framework for negotiating pay and conditions at local level. Read more at > PCS

UK - Unions welcome some of government’s pensions proposals

Public sector unions believe there are a number of positive elements in government proposals for major changes in the UK’s pensions system. The UK’s basic pension provides a very low level of pension for all workers who meet the contributions requirements. The plans will mean that pension increases will be linked to increases in earnings not just prices and the contributions requirements will be reduced to help those who are out of the labour market for long periods. However, the proposals also include an increase in the state pension age from 65 to 66 from 2024, to 67 from 2034 and 68 from 2046. Read more at > UNISON And at > Amicus And at > GMB Meanwhile, local government unions continue their campaign to prevent the government from reducing pension benefits in the Local Government Pension Scheme. UNISON is challenging government claims that age discrimination legislation is forcing it to end the “rule of 85” which allows local government workers to retire on an unreduced pension if their age and length of service add up to 85. Read more at > UNISON

Europe - More pensions news for EPSU affiliates

EPSU affiliates discussed a number of key issues at a pensions working group on 1 June in Luxembourg. These included individual rights to pensions portability (a draft directive is currently being discussed in the European Parliament), gender equality and socially responsible investment. The working group agreed that it was important that pensions developments in the public services across Europe should be monitored more closely and share across EPSU affiliates. Pensions issues will get more coverage in epsucob@NEWS. Please send us news of developments in your sector. And please help us extend our mailing list. If you know anyone who may be interested in reading epsucob@NEWS then send us their email address and we will add them to the mailing list. Read more at > EPSU

France - Call for strike action over unpaid working day

The local government union within the CGT federation has written to the Christian Jacob the public services minister to inform him of a plan for strike action on 5 June. The action is in protest at the government’s insistence that 5 June is no longer a holiday but a day of unpaid work. The union argues that public sector workers are already demoralised by the failure to negotiate real increases in pay in the public sector. Read more at > CGT-FNME

France - Protests planned over Gaz de France privatisation

Unions in Gaz de France are planning two days of protest against the proposed merger with the French utility company Suez. Unions are angry that the government has approved the effective privatisation of GdF in response to a hostile takeover bid for the company from the Italian utility ENEL. The CGT energy federation FNME has planned a day of protest on 10 June and then will be joined by the FO and CFE-CGC union federations for a joint day of action on 20 June. Read more at > CGT des Services Publics