Trade, Strike, Economic Policy
Decision of the European Committee on Social Rights : it’s time for States to stop using volunteer firefighters as a cheaper way to provide emergency public services !
EPSU welcomes the decision of the European Committee on Social Rights (ESCR) recognising that volunteer firefighters are workers within the meaning of the European Social Charter.
Local and Regional Government Social Dialogue preparing to negotiate digitalisation guidelines
Social Partners agreed to publish a joint statement on the negative impact of the proposed fiscal rules on local and regional governments and advanced in their discussions on the future negotiations of sectoral guidelines on digitalisation.
Pay rise in water – action in waste
The SINTAP trade union has reached an agreement with Águas de Portugal water company that applies to the union’s members and delivers a 3% increase, with a minimum of €53, an increase in the food allowance to €7.60, as well as establishing an entry salary in the company of €905. Workers with more than 10 years’ service get further improvements. Meanwhile, the STAL trade union has been active in the waste sector where it has been involved in protest and industrial action to secure better pay and conditions for workers in the FCC and Resinorte companies. At FCC the demand is for a 15% pay
Confederation calls for 24-hour public sector strike on 21 May
The ADEDY public sector trade union confederation has called a national, public sector strike for 21 May over the cost of living and low pay across the public services. ADEDY argues that the pay rise awarded from 1 January 2024 of €38-€42 a month has done little to compensate for the loss of purchasing power over the years since austerity. The confederation says that a nurse has to survive on a net salary of €680. ADEDY is calling for a 10% pay increase for all public sector workers, for collective bargaining on pay, for abolition of the 2% unemployment levy, an increase in the tax-free
Confederation suspends political strikes
The SAK trade union confederation has decided to suspend the industrial action taken by a number of its member organisations in order to engage with the government over its programme of welfare cuts and anti-union measures. The actions began on 11 March and were suspended on 8 April. The unions involved were in both public and private sectors – the industrial union, the AKT transport workers' union, service union PAM, the construction union, the JHL public and welfare sector union and the electricity union. SAK wants the government to make clear that it won’t bring forward measures to restrict
Pressure from unions delivers in health and social care
Trade unions, including Sanitas and Columna, have managed to secure pay increases for workers in health and social services. According to Sanitas, increases in the health sector vary according to occupation but range up to 26.8% with 20% in social assistance. The union has also been able to resolve discrepancies in salaries affecting a number of specific occupations. Meanwhile Columna has also been active in local government where it organised strike action on 19 March involving nearly 19000 workers as it tries to ensure that the pay increases that apply to health, education and social care
