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Commission analyses reveal gaps in working time protection
European Commission reports on the Working Time Directive, published on 15 March, reveal that Member States’ legislation is generally compliant, but that some problems remain in ensuring that the legislation is having full effect, particularly across all public services.
General strike forces government to pause legal reforms
A general strike organised by the Histradut confederation was a key part of the national mobilisation against the government coalition’s plans to weaken the role of the Supreme Court. As a result the government, which includes parties of the far right, said the proposals that would prevent the Court from ruling on legislation and allow the government to appoint judges, would be put on hold.
Union takes action in infrastructure company and health services
The SINTAP union is planning strike action on 6 April in the government’s Infraestruturas company that deals with road and rail building and maintenance. This follows two days of action on 28 February and 2 March and the failure of the company to respond to the union’s demands on pay, purchasing power, collective bargaining and staff shortages. SINTAP is also planning 12 days’ of strikes and a one-month overtime ban at the Fernando Fonseca hospital in protest at management’s failure to implement the collective agreement signed in 2018.
Unions continue to mobilise in Labour and Social Security Inspectorate
The FSC-CCOO public services federation is continuing to challenge the management of the ITSS Labour and Social Security Inspectorate over its failure to properly implement an agreement signed in July 2021 and the block on the agreement imposed by the Ministry of Finance. The union is planning further mobilisations over the coming weeks with a new call for strike action likely in May, including a threat to take indefinite action if the management and government fail to react. The federation is conscious of the impact of industrial action on those dependent on the ITSS’s services but argues
Union negotiates two-year agreement in private care
The FOA trade union and the Danish Chamber of Commerce have agreed a two-year renewal of the collective agreement for employees private care covering also residential homes and nursing homes for the first time. The hourly wage increases by DKK 6 (€0.80) as of 1 March and there will be a further increase of DKK 5.75 (€0.77) per hour on 1 March 2024. FOA made a point of securing a flat-rate increase for all employees. This will mean that a social and health assistant on day duty can will get a monthly salary increase of just over DKK 3,600 (€485) when the full effect of the collective agreement
Union action secures another pensions success in childcare
Following a successful strike over pensions at the PBL employers’ organisation, the Fagforbundet trade union has managed to secure improved occupational pensions for employees in kindergartens covered by the NHO Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. The four-week strike in NHO companies ended on 17 March with negotiations guaranteeing that the portion of public subsidies intended for pension purposes will be fully applied and that savings rates for pensions will also be guaranteed rather than varying from one kindergarten to another. The deal also means that employers are not tempted to
Unions continue actions in justice ministry and accident insurance institute
The three public service federations – FP-CGIL, CISL-FP and UIL-PA – continue to mobilise their members in both the Ministry of Justice and the INAIL institute that provides compensation for workplace accidents. While progress has been made at the Ministry of Justice and some agreements signed the unions are concerned that there is no further commitment to negotiate on a new collective agreement and on some specific issues such as smart working. Meanwhile, at the INAIL members of FP-CGIL, CISL-FP and UIL-PA have organized actions around the country, including an occupation of the main offices
Unions mobilise for 10th day of strikes and protests
The main trade union organisations – CGT, CFDT, FO, UNSA and CFE-CGC – have maintained their determined campaign of protest and strike action against the pension reforms put forward by the government. The government chose to use a constitutional mechanism to avoid a vote in parliament and so the legislation is now at the Constitutional Court for assessment. The 10th day of action took place on 28 March with the next date set as 6 April.
Unions express concern over push for new pay system
Public service trade unions, including SDLSN and HSMSS-MT, have expressed major concerns at the attempt by the government to rush to set up a new pay system covering the 240,000 workers in the public sector. The unions argue that there are many factors at play covering different groups of workers that make it impossible to complete negotiations by the end of June. The government says that the changes are needed as part of the reforms required by the European Union for Croatia to access funds from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The unions are worried that legislation will be put