Training/life-long learning, Economic Policy
#ChangeFinance: Open Letter to the European Commission to cancel BlackRock tender
The European Commission has awarded BlackRock Investment Management a consultancy contract to advise on the integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks into EU banking rules, and into banks’ business and investment strategies.
EPSU on results of European Council: where’s the funding for the recovery of our public services?
The European Council has adopted a number of measures to assist businesses and workers as our economies are hit hard by the COVID19 pandemic. The package makes available €540 billion for euro zone member states.
Post COVID-19: LRG Standing Committee reflects on Economic and Labour Market Policy
Yesterday, the Local and Regional Government standing committee met online with Ronald Janssen, OECD, and affiliates to reflect upon the impact of COVID 19 on Economic and Labour Market Policy, especially what this means the local and regional government sector.
Whatever it takes – A call from economists, personalities and trade union leaders
A large group of economists, academics, trade unionists and others are calling on the European institutions and governments to do whatever it takes to save workers, our jobs and our people in times of the COVID-19 pandemic
EPSU Statement on the European response to COVID 19
EPSU, the European trade union for public service workers, calls on national governments to take immediate measures to ensure that health services receive much needed emergency funding and to boost staffing levels in the short term through whatever means are possible.
Waste processing workers get 3.75% pay rise
The FNV trade union has negotiated a new 12-month agreement covering around 7000 workers in the waste processing sector. There will be a 3.75% pay increase with 2.75% paid in January and 1% in August along with a one-off payment of EUR 125. Two hundred workers on flexible contracts will be offered permanent jobs. There are also improved provisions for training and there will be talks over pensions and more possibilities for early retirement related to the arduousness of the job and length of service. The young workers' pay rate (18) will rise from 85% to 87.5% of the full adult rate.
Nursing organisations call for action on jobs, staffing and training
The HSSMS-MT nursing union has joined with other nursing organisations in submitting a series of demands on the government to address the urgent problem of understaffing resulting from emigration and retirement. The joint document highlights the increased pressure that the health service faces and the failure of recent governments to provide solutions. The unions and associations want to see proper recognition of qualifications and responsibilities in the job and pay structure and recruitment of more staff. They are also calling for clear plan to address training and education needs.
Progress towards eldercare sector agreement
Both the ver.di service union and the BVAP employers' organisation report making good progress in their negotiations on a first-ever sector agreement covering eldercare providers. The two sides have also confirmed that they will apply to the labour ministry to have the agreement extended to cover all providers in the sector even if they are not party to the negotiations. The next round of negotiations will take place on 4-5 February. In the meantime the two sides report specific progress on a separate agreement covering trainees that will ensure pay will eventually match that for trainees in
Union hotline exposes poor conditions for care trainees
A telephone hotline set up by the FNV public services union in early November was used by over 500 people, many of whom revealed disturbing information on the situation facing trainees in the care sector. There was evidence of trainees used effectively as full-time employees to cover for holidays and sickness, being required to carry out tasks on their own for which they had not been fully trained and having responsibility for other trainees and temporary workers. There were also indications of inadequate supervision and supervisors lacking time to provide adequate support. The FNV has
Action delivers for hospital workers
Following industrial action and the first ever national hospital strike, trade unions have negotiated a new 27-month collective agreement that includes a 5% pay increase from 1 January 2020 and a further 3% from 1 January 2021. Around half of hospital employees work irregular hours and they will benefit from a new allowance which will add a further 2.5% to their pay. All employees will also get a EUR 1200 pro rata lump sum. The agreement includes higher pay for trainees and measures to improve work-life balance for those working on-call and additional shifts. The unions have also managed to