EpsuCOB@ News April 2004

PLEASE HELP US WITH TWO SURVEYS

EPSU is trying to update two surveys - one on equal pay and the other on life-long learning. If you haven’t received the questionnaires let us know and we’ll send copies to you. If you have seen them but not replied yet then there is still time.

COME TO OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WORKING GROUP

EPSU has organised a collective bargaining working group for 19 April in Brussels. This will be a chance to discuss progress with the epsucob@ network, plans for the collective bargaining conference in October and how work on the collective bargaining database is developing. You should have received details of the meeting already but please let us know if they didn’t reach you.

UK - Unions angry at threat to civil service jobs
Spain - CC.OO. study reveals rise in temporary work in public sector
France - Further negotiations follow firefighters’demonstration
France - Unions plan action against EDF/GDF privatisation
Belgium - Non-profit sector workers take to streets again
Europe - Gender equality plans at the workplace
Slovenia - One-hour general warning strike hits industry
Germany - Regions push for longer working hours
Germany - Ver.di welcomes new training requirement
Finland - Holiday reform plans get mixed reaction
ETUC - Alternative view of economic prospects
Equal pay - PSI Pay Equity Newsletter

UK - Unions angry at threat to civil service jobs

Civil service unions reacted with anger over government plans to cut 40,000 civil services jobs. PCS, Prospect and the FDA have condemned the cost-driven cuts and the portrayal of civil servants who provide many essential services simply as bureaucrats.

Spain - CC.OO. study reveals rise in temporary work in public sector

The Comisiones Obreras union confederation in Spain published a report last month highlighting the increase in temporary working in the public sector. The report found that the proportion of public sector workers on temporary contracts rose from 16.1% in 1996 to 22.7% in 2003. In contrast, the private sector saw a fall from 39.5% to 32.5%.

France - Further negotiations follow firefighters’ demonstration

Around 7,000 firefighters demonstrated in Paris at the end of last month as part of their campaign to improve their retirement rights and have their job officially classified as a dangerous occupation. The three unions backing the campaign, CGT, FO and FASPP, met with interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy on the same day. Sarkozy has promised legislation on the question of firefighting being a dangerous occupation and has said he is willing to negotiate over improved retirement rights.

France - Unions plan action against EDF/GDF privatisation

Five union federations (FO, CGT, CFDT, CFTC and SUD) are backing a day of action in protest against the French government plans to privatise the EDF and GDF electricity and gas firms. Demonstrations and strikes are planned for 8 April when the state council will be considering a bill to change the status of the two organisations from state enterprises to ordinary public companies.

Belgium - Non-profit sector workers take to streets again

Workers in the non-profit sector in Belgium organised their second national demonstration in two months on 1 April. Staff from hospitals, nursing homes and home care workers are still calling for pay rises to catch up with other sectors, higher rates for irregular hours and for the introduction of a 13th month salary. Other demands cover pensions, moving to a 36-hour week and getting commitments to keep out private sector operators.

Gender Equality plans at the work place

The European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) has just published a comparative study looking at gender equality plans at the workplace. The report outlines the legal basis for such plans - highlighting public/private sector differences where relevant. It then examines the extent of gender equality plans and what they cover.

Slovenia - One-hour general warning strike hits industry

Seven industry sector trade unions, including the SDE energy workers union - joined a one-hour warning strike in late February. Unions called for an immediate start to negotiations over new collective agreements and substantial pay increases.

Germany - Regions push for longer working hours

German region authorities (Länder) in the west have announced the termination of the current agreement on working time as from 30 April. They are pushing for longer hours and are calling for a working week of up to 42 hours for all new employees. The main public service union Ver.di has condemned the move saying it threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs in the public services.

Germany - Ver.di welcomes new training requirement

The main public services union Ver.di has welcomed a bill requiring employers to meet a 7% training quota or pay a training duty. The union believes that larger employers - those with 500 or more employees - will be most affected. The union is keen to tackle the issue through collective bargaining. It says that while certain sectors already meet the 7% requirement (in particular health care and social services), a lot needs to be done in the energy, water and waste sectors.

Finland - Holiday reform plans get mixed reaction

Finland’s Annual Holidays Act is up for reform and there are proposals to extend the Act’s coverage to more part-time workers. The Act currently allows for five weeks holiday a year but excludes those working less than 35 hours a month. A committee consisting of employer and employee organisations has examined the Act and put forward a number of proposals for reform including the extension of the five-weekly holiday entitlement to those workers less than 35 hours a month. However, unions are concerned about another proposal which would allow employees to give up their fifth week of holiday in return for some kind of financial compensation.

ETUC - Alternative view of economic prospects

The ETUC is asking trade unions to help it put together an alternative view on economic prospects. It says that economic forecasts are essential in discussions on which policy measures should be taken, such as in the EU Spring Council. At present, the forecasts come from the Commission and the employers’ organisation UNICE. The ETUC argues that having trade union-based expectations of future developments may be useful in countering some claims from other parties. If you can help with this project please contact Ronald Janssen at the ETUC who will send you a short questionnaire - email: rjanssen@etuc.org

Equal pay - PSI Pay Equity Newsletter

Public Services International has launched a new electronic newsletter as part of its pay equity campaign. The newsletter will focus on pay equity concerns and achievements, including union action to advance pay equity, collective bargaining and equality issues, job evaluation schemes and training and capacity building, new research and publications. It will also cover legislative developments and government and employer initiatives. It will be produced every two months in English and Spanish. You can subscribe on-line at the PSI web-site (www.world-psi.org) or by writing to us at equality@world-psi.org. Read more at > PSI