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ETUC welcomes Commission initiative on revision of European Works Council directive
(Brussels, 21 November 2007) {The Steering Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed the initiative of the European Commission to proceed with the revision of the European Works
Strikes and demonstrations planned for 20 November
Public sector union federations have called for a day of action on 20 November in response to the government's failure to negotiate over pay, pensions and jobs. The unions want to see public service employees compensated for the loss of purchasing power of their salaries over recent years, an end to precarious employment and a retraction of current proposals to reduce pension entitlement. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/IMG/pdf_communique_pour_manifestation_du_20_nov.pdf] [And at > CFDT (FR)->http://www.cfdt.fr/actualite/fonctions_publiques/salaires_dialogue_social
Berlin regional government takes minimum wage initiative
While the national debate over the introduction of a statutory minimum wage continues, the regional government in Berlin is taking steps to introduce a minimum wage in public contracts. The government is proposing that any company bidding for a contract with the regional authority which does not have a collective agreement will have to prove that it pays its workers at least €7.50 an hour. This is the current trade union target for a national minimum wage. Read more at > Berlin regional government (DE)
State sector and private social services agreements concluded
JHL the biggest public service union reports that collective agreements in the state sector and private social services sector have been concluded. State sector workers will get an 11.7% increase over two years, this is ahead of general pay rises and in line with JHL's strategy to close the gap between private and public sector pay. The two-year pay increases in private social services will be between 10.2% and 13.1% depending on the occupation. This deal is in line with the recent agreement in the municipal sector and also includes an equality allowance as a measure to reduce the gender pay
ETUC calls finance ministers to account on wage moderation
The ETUC is calling for talks with European finance ministers and the European Commission to secure a change in policy over wages. Recent evidence shows not only several years of wage moderation but a falling share of wages in national income. Confederal secretary Walter Cerfeda argues: “Europe has to get rid of the ‘idée fixe' that wage moderation automatically results in new jobs. For an integrated economy such as the euro area, systemic wage moderation only results in undermining overall domestic demand on the European internal market.” [Read more at > ETUC version française->http://www
Major issues at stake in bargaining at E.ON
The energy section of the ver.di services union has re-affirmed its refusal to accept E.ON's demands for a longer working week (up from 36 to 38 hours) and a second and lower pay scale. The union also wants the company's subsidiary in east Germany to be fully covered by the collective agreement and assurance that any new companies in the E.ON group will also be covered. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
Federations mobilise healthworkers
The three main public sector federations - FP CGIL, FPS CSIL and UIL - are planning to mobilise their health service workers for a national demonstration at the health ministry in Rome following a statement from health minister Turco that he would not endorse the new collective agreement signed back in July. The unions are warning that inadequate staffing levels, pay cuts and more precarious employment are undermining levels of service in the sector. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)