Social Services, Digitalisation, Tax justice
Union welcomes subsidised childcare but calls for urgent action on pay
(October 2017) The SIPTU general union has welcomed the recent government initiative to boost the provision of subsidised childcare.but again has made a call for urgent action on pay for workers in the early years sector. The union points out that many workers are on term-time contracts and so are only paid 38 weeks of the years with many on an hourly rate below the living wage.
Works councils should have say in digitalisation of government
(October 2016) The ver.di services union argues that workers and works councils need to have a say in any planned digitalisation of public services. The messages comes after the publication by the interior ministry of an assessment of a project on e-government. Ver.di contacted eight of the local authorities that had been part of the project and found that works councils, workers and their unions had not had any role in the process. The union also called for investment in training for public sector staff as part of process to avoid outsourcing.
Care unions make point with 6.4 Km scarf
(October 2016) Unions organising in the private social care sector (vida and GPA-djp) delivered a 6.4 km scarf to the finance ministry to make their point about the need for more social warmth. The scarf was knitted by unions members and some of the peopel they care for and the messages from the unions was that the sector needs increased funding and action to tackle below average earnings, inadequate staffing, irregular working hours and excessive physical and mental burdens.
Care workers hit by further bankruptcies
(October 2016) Public services unions FOA reports that two private care companies, Intensiv Pleje and AK Service, have gone bankrupt leaving local municipalities to sort out the mess and ensure continued care for the companies' clients and employment for the workers affected. FOA says this takes the total of care company bankruptcies to nine this year and calls for urgent action to tackle the problem, including social clauses in procurement.
Local Government Sector: European Pillar of Social Rights, Digitalisation and Finnish Health Care Reform
At their meetings on 19th and 20th of September 2016, the EPSU local government unions discussed the way forward on the European Pillar of Social Rights. Esther Lynch, ETUC Confederal Secretary presented the plans and next steps on ETUC’s strategy on the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Union action wins higher increase for personal assistants
(September 2016) Municipal union Kommunal has been successful in its campaign to secure a higher pay increase for the 40000 personal assistants working for private companies. As reported in the last issue, Kommunal rejected the 0.8% pay offer from the Almega employers' organisation, arguing that the pay increase should match the 2.2% agreed in the public sector. The higher increase was agreed after mediation.