Social Services, Central government, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Armenia

The SINDLEX trade union federation has been negotiating for three years to try to secure improvements in pay and conditions for a range occupations in the Ministry of Interior including police, prison staff, emergency workers and firefighters. The union is calling for pay commensurate with these workers’ responsibilities and competences. It also wants the government to end the moratorium on recruitment and tackle the serious understaffing that has led to pressure on remaining staff and high levels of overtime which often goes unpaid. EPSU sent a letter to the Prime Minister in support of the

Over 400 social care workers in Legnica in south west Poland could begin strike action on 27 February if their pay demands are not met. Their union, NSZZ "Solidarność", points out that over half the workers are on the minimum wage and this is set to rise to three-quarters if the employers don’t respond to the call for pay increases. The union says that this is a fight not just about pay but for the dignity of the profession. Meanwhile, water workers in Wielkopolska in central west Poland – members of the NSZZ "Solidarność" and Forum trade unions – are involved in protests over pricing and

Workers at the ZUS social insurance institution are getting a large pay rise thanks to months of campaigning and negotiating by their union ZPP ZUS. Most workers will get at least PLN 600 (€125) but on average increases will be around PLN 900 (€190). The minimum salary is now PLN 3100 (€650). Some workers will benefit from discretionary increases with a maximum increase for most workers of PLN 1200 (€250) while IT workers could get up to PLN 1500 (€315). EPSU wrote to the prime minister underlining the massive amount of additional work ZUS employees had to undertake in relation to the pandemic

Members of the Solidarity trade union employed by the local authority and municipal companies in Szczecin in North West Poland organised a protest on 29 December outside the City Hall calling for a pay rise for the many workers carrying out essential services and often arduous work. The demands cover around 6000 workers providing a range of services from water and waste to early years education and nursing homes. The union has called for a PLN 1000 (€220) pay rise and estimates that some 50% of the 6000 workers are on the minimum wage of PLN 3000 (€660). The action followed an earlier protest

In response to a new government development strategy, the OPZZ trade union confederation has emphasised the need to ensure decent pay in the public services and has expressed concern about government proposals to freeze public sector pay in 2021. OPZZ argues that current levels of pay fail to make the public sector attractive to new recruits and there are problems with fluctuating employment levels while workers face increasing responsibilities and workloads. The confederation underlines the link between quality services and quality employment and the important of effective tax, legal, health

EPSU has sent a letter to the prime minister protesting against the introduction of the so-called Shield Two law that allows for regulations to be passed to cut the jobs and pay and conditions of civil servants and other workers in public administration. Poland has not declared a state of emergency and yet the legislation was rushed through without the normal parliamentary procedure nor consultation with trade unions. Furthermore, parts of the Labour Code and legislation on collective redundancies will not apply if the regulations are implemented.

Members of the Solidarity trade union working in the courts and prosecutors' offices organised a protest on 13 November over pay. Rather than the image of high-paid judges and prosecutors, the union says that 80% of workers get less than 2000 ZLT (EUR 475) a month and their pay claim is for a modest 100 ZLT a month (EUR 25). The protestors handed in a petition to the prime minister also calling for an increase in jobs in the sector.

(November 2016) EPSU has written a letter to the prime minister of Armenia to protest at plans to cut up to 30% of jobs in the public services. The letter also criticises the government for failing to carry out any consultation with trade unions on the planned restructuring. EPSU argues that the planned cuts will not resolve the economic problems facing the country and calls on the government to consult with all stakeholders.