2014 October epsucob@NEWS 17

Health service trade unions report high levels of support for the four hours of strike action on Monday 13 October and the industrial action (working to rule) on following days. The strike was notable for the involvement of the Royal College of Midwives, the first ever strike in the union's 133-year history. The unions are also backing the TUC's national demonstration on 18 October. [Read more at > Unison->http://www.unison.org.uk/news/taking-a-break-for-fair-pay] [And at > GMB->http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/solid-strike-in-nhs] [And at > Unite->http://www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite

The planned one-day local government strike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 14 October was called off and further action suspended while the trade unions consult with their members over an improved offer from the employers. The offer includes pay increases ranging from 8.56% for the lowest paid to 2.2% for those on higher pay scales. The increases would take effect from 1 January 2015 while there would be lump sum payments of between £100 (€125) and £325 (€410) in December 2014, again with the higher amounts for the lower paid. [Read more at > Unison->http://www.unison.org.uk/news

Care workers employed in Doncaster, South Yorkshire took their pay dispute to London for the third time to protest outside the offices of Bridgepoint Capital, the owners of Care UK, the company that employs them. Following the latest action, the workers have now taken 90 days of strike action in their campaign to reverse cuts of up to 35% in their pay. Meanwhile the GMB general union has joined with employer representatives Care England to make the case for a living wage for care workers. [Read more at > UNISON->http://www.unison.org.uk/content/ConNewsArticle/5461] [And at > GMB->http://www

The three confederations are coordinating a series of protests and strikes against the new government's proposed austerity budget. The union argue that the budget is socially unjust, with workers' paying the price and no attempt to get the wealthy and high-paid to make a large contribution. Unions are concerned about the threat to the wage indexation system, the scope to negotiate pay increases and plans to increase the retirement age to 67. A national demonstration on 6 November will be followed by regional strikes on 25 November and 1 December and a general strike on 15 December. [Read more

The public sector federations in the CCOO confederation have called for negotiations over the state budget which they see as a further major attack on public services, which have already seen job cuts - around 20% since 2011 - the loss of purchasing power - 17%-23% since 2011 - the blocking of collective bargaining and increasing social inequality. The CCOO federations in health, education and services to citizens will launch an information campaign and mobilization to defend pay and working conditions and public services which will take place between October 20 and November 19, consisting of

After two years without an updated collective agreement, unions in provincial government are now consulting with their members over a possible deal. The proposed agreement would be effectively backdated to 1 June 2012 and run until 31 December 2015. There will be a 2% pay increase on 1 January 2015, followed by a 1% increase on 1 July. A lump sum of €450 will be paid to all workers when the agreement is signed. Other elements include support for those made redundant in terms of help to find new jobs, training and careers advice; action on jobs for disabled and young workers; regulation of

The STAL local government union is urging its members to join a demonstration in Lisbon on 31 October called by the Frente Comum, the common front of public administration unions. One of the main aims of the protest is to secure official publication and recognition of the 500 agreements on working time negotiated across the public sector that retain the 35-hour week/seven-hour day. The unions argue that the government is infringing both rights to collective bargaining and rights to local autonomy in the public sector. The government has tried to impose a five-hour increase in working time