Procurement, Local government
Library and clinic staff in massive votes for action
(July 2016) In separate votes, 87% of library staff and 93% of staff at the Centre Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Dublin have voted for industrial action. The CRC dispute is over plans to close the pension scheme while library workers in 13 local authority areas are concerned about the implications of plans to amalgamate services. The library restructuring decision has been taken without proper consultation with the union over the impact on staff. The CRC pension schemes was closed without consultation and with management refusing to provide the union with information. Read more on the library
Firefighters mobilise over retirement age
(July 2016) Firefighters have been mobilising around the country and in some regions taking industrial action to defend their right to early retirement. In some regions firefighters have been handing in petitions to local authorities while in addition some firefighters have been dealing with emergency calls only. Firefighters currently have early retirement rights between 55 and 59 and want to resist the demand by employers to move to 60. Read more at FNV (NL).
Firefighters develop plan to address cancer risk
(June 2016) Following a conference in Oviedo on 8 June, the FSC-CCOO public services federation has called for safety committees in the fire service to implement plan of action to tackle cancer risks for firefighters. The conference discussed the findings of 32 studies involving more than 110,000 firefighters, showing the risks firefighters face through contamination of uniforms, materials and equipment. The union wants to see action to eliminate or reduce the risk of cancer with implementation of routine cleaning and decontamination of equipment. The plan would also involve modifying the
Real wage rises for 2m public sector workers
(May 2016) After three rounds of negotiations and a series of warning strikes, public sector unions have agreed a two-year deal covering just over two million workers in national and local government. There will be a 2.4% pay increase this year, backdated to 1 March and a 2.35% next year as of 1 February. There are also increases for apprentices and an extension to the agreement to offer apprentices jobs when they quality. Read more at ver.di (DE)
Airport workers strike in support of public sector pay claim
Services union ver.di organised a strike of airport workers on 27 April to support the current negotiations covering 2.14 million employees in federal and local government. The union dismissed the employers' offer of a 0.6% pay rise this year (1.2% in 2017 and 2018) as an insult. Ver.di's claim is for a 6% increase in a 12-month deal, along with an extra EUR 100 for trainees. Read more at ver.di (DE).
Two-year agreement in local government
(May 2016) Most local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will get pay increases of 1% this year and next year under a new two-year agreement. Lower paid workers will benefit from higher increases ranging from 1.01% to 6.6% in 2016 and from 1.3% to 3.4% in 2017. while the deal was accepted by Unison and the GMB it was rejected by members of the Unite trade union. Read more at Unison and at Unite
Pay deal will help reduce gender pay gap
(May 2016) Municipal workers' union, Kommunal, has negotiated a new three-year agreement covering the welfare sector that includes a real pay increase for all but a higher pay increase for skilled nurses. This is a key part of the union's strategy to tackle the gender pay gap. In 2016 the basic pay increase will be SEK 520 (EUR 56) while nurses will get SEK 2010 (EUR 110). The agreement also includes provisions to ensure that full-time employment is the norm in the sector. Read more at Kommunal (SV)
Local public services in 2030: Chair of EPSU's local and regional government committee debates challenges and opportunities at CEMR's Congress
(21 April 2016) Increasing pressure on financial resources, changing demography, redistribution of powers, digitalisation, citizens’ demands and expectations, international trade agreements, and more - local public services and their management