Gas, Local government
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.
Campaign against pay cuts for school support staff
(September 2016) Public services union Unison organised a lobby of Parliament on 14 September, highlighting the situation of school support staff in Derby in central England who have seen their pay cut by 25%. The workers have already taken strike action and Unison is commiting national support to the workers who face a cut in annual salary from £21,000 (EUR 24500) to around £15,000 (EUR17500).
Fight for 35 hours for all continues
(September 2016) Despite the national reform to revert to the 35-hour week across the public sector, trade unions are still having to fight to ensure all workers see their hours reduced from 40 a week. The STAL local government union organised a demonstration outside the Braga town hall on 19 September in protest at the mayor's decision to maintain the 40-hour week for workers employed by private contractors. The union plans further action if the local authority fails to implement the cut in hours. Meanwhile the SEP nurses' union is continuing its local actions around the country to secure the
EPSU intervenes to support municipal workers
(September 2016) EPSU has written to the major of the Aviclar local authority in Istanbul calling on him to reinstate 43 workers who were sacked earlier this year without good reason. The workers have been campaigning for reinstatement for over four months with support from the local community and at national level from their union Belediye-Is. EPSU has also called on the mayor to negotiate with the trade union and the local worker representatives (see letter).Update: The union has reached an agreement with the city council that will result in the reinstatement of dismissed workers (7 October
Union calls for negotations on pay and employment
(September 2016) The FeSP-UGT public services federation has called on the interim government to open negotiations with trade unions to ensure that the law setting out the budget for 2017 includes provisions for increased employment and a pay rise for public sector workers. The federation says that urgent action is needed to fill vacancies, take on temporary staff on permament contracts and reinstate the 170000 jobs cut since 2011. It is also arguing for a 3% pay increase in line with overall economic growth. Read more at FeSP-UGT (ES).
Union declares conflict with private care company
(September 2016) The FOA public services union began strike action against the DK-Pleje care company on 1 September in protest at its refusal to sign up to a collectvie agreement. This is the first time the union has taken action against a private care company. It argues that DK-Pleje is undercutting reputable employers by paying its workers below rates agreed in the sector agreement and points out that the company has lost contracts with some local authorities because of the poor quality of care it provides. Read more at FOA (DK)
Union calls for action on temporary staff
(August 2016) Public service union Kommunal has used the findings of a new report on temporary work to call for measures to reduce fixed-term employment in local government. The union says that employers should have to justify the use of temporary contracts and that there should be a commitment to offer permanent contracts to temporary workers. The report reveals that over 60% of nursing assistants were on temporary contracts and the vast majority of all those on temporary contracts want a permanent job. Read more at Kommunal (SV).
Federations set out key bargaining demands
(August 2016) The public sector federations of the CCOO and UGT confederations have set out some key collective bargaining demands. The CCOO federations put their proposals to the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration at the end of July calling for a re-establishment of collective bargaining, creation of 356000 jobs and an end to restrictions on recruitment. They also want to see a recovery of purchasing power for public sector workers, a return to the 35-hour week and recuperation of other cuts to pay and conditions made since 2010. The FeSP-UGT federation demands include a 3% pay
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)