2010 November epsucob@NEWS 22
Unions report high level of support for general strike
The CGTP and UGT trade union confederations came together on 24 November in a general strike in protest against the government’s austerity measures. Public sector unions reported a high turnout with widespread closures across local government and the transport system. Read more at > STAL (PT) And at > SINTAP (PT) And at > STE (PT) And at > BBC news website (EN) And at > EPSU (EN)
Confederation calls national demonstration over austerity budget
The ICTU confederation has called a national demonstration for 27 November in protest at what is expected to be another austerity budget with major cuts in public spending. ICTU general secretary David Begg said: "We have had three austerity budgets but we are in a worse position than when the process started.” Unions argue in particular that those on low incomes will be hit hard, particularly with a potential cut in the minimum wage. [Read more at > Impact (EN)->http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/-t-90_602.html ] [And at > SIPTU->http://www.siptu.ie/PressRoom/NewsReleases/2010/Name,11992,en.html ]
Public sector strike planned for 8 December
Public sector unions are planning to strike on 8 December in protest at the government plans to cut pay by 10%. The unions argue that the cut is unacceptable and will be compounded by other cuts to social provision proposed by the government. They also argue that the cuts will have negative impact on the quality of public services. The CMKOZ confederation will also organise rallies around the country in support of the public sector unions. [Read more at > Statorg (CZ)->http://statorg.cmkos.cz/] [And at > Morning Star (EN)->http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full
Unions organise joint action on 23 November
Following the repeated mobilisations in September, October and early November against the government’s pensions legislation, five union organisations organised a national day of action on 23 November. They challenged the government’s statement that the question of pensions was now settled and also raised further issues such as employment, working conditions and gender inequality about which they want to make their voices heard both to the government and employers. The unions also announced their support for a further day of action on 15 December, joining other unions around Europe in protest
Confederation calls national demonstration to defend collective bargaining and decent work
The CGIL trade union confederation has called a national demonstration in Rome on 27 November in protest at government cuts, the planned dismissal of 80,000 fixed-term workers across the public sector and attempts by employers to undermine collective bargaining. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)
Waste employers' offer angers union
Verdi has reacted angrily to the latest proposals from the BDE private waste employers’ organisation. The union had called for a 3% pay increase backdated to May 2010 but the employers’ have offered nothing for an eight-month period and just 1% from January 2011. Verdi is also concerned about the employers’ aims to introduce a lower level pay structure which would mean some workers stuck on pay rates equivalent to those from the mid-1990s. Read more at > verdi (DE)
Prison officers take action
Unions in the prison sector organised strike action on 15 November and plan further action from 24 November over jobs and working conditions. The unions are calling for negotiations over plans to shut facilities as well as over staffing levels and employment conditions. In general they are demanding a proper process of social dialogue in the sector. [Read more at > CFDT (FR)->http://www.cfdt.fr/rewrite/article/29728/actualites/l-actu-des-ministeres/administration-penitentiaire:mobilisons-nous-le-24-novembre-2010-et-au-dela-!.htm?idRubrique=9016] [And at > Figaro news website (FR)-> http://www
Prison unions demonstrate over working conditions
The five trade unions in the prison sector, including the FSC-CCOO and FSP-UGT, called a national demonstration for 25 November to protest over pay, working conditions and overcrowding. The unions are angry that the prison employers have failed to abide by collective agreements and accuse them of presiding over a chaotic management system. Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES) And at > FSP-UGT (ES)
Unions take action to defend employment conditions
Unions at water services group Veolia took industrial action earlier this month in protest at plans by the company to change their employment conditions from January 2011. In June this year Veolia won the 12-year contract for water supply for the Ile de France region in controversial circumstances. The unions, led by the CGT and FO, say that they currently benefit from pay and conditions in line with civil servants in the Paris region but will lose out if Veolia goes ahead with the changes next year. [Read more at > Le Monde (Fr)->http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2010/11/17/greve-et
Collective bargaining co-ordination group calls for measures to boost economy
The Doorn group brings together union confederations from Belgium, the Netherland, France and Germany to discuss common challenges facing their collective bargaining. The 10th meeting of the group earlier this month criticised government austerity measures and called for action to boost the economic recovery. The confederations also underlined the need for a proper process of social dialogue at national and European level to prevent workers from having to pay the price of a crisis that began as a result of deregulation in the finance sector. [Read more at > CGSLB (FR)->http://www.cgslb.be
Unions finally agree care sector deal
After lengthy and difficult negotiations unions have managed to negotiate a new collective agreement covering around 400,000 workers in nursing care and care homes. The two-year deal runs to March 2012 and includes a 0.5% pay increase from 1 September 2010 plus a lump sum in December worth 0.6% of annual salary. There are then two increases of 0.75% in 2011 in January and July with the end-of-year bonus increased by 0.5%. Employers commit to allocating 2% of the paybill to training and additional leave provisions for older workers are retained along with new possibilities to save hours for
Public sector unions take action in support of migrant workers
Unions across the public sector have been taking a range of measures in support of migrant workers. In particular, they have been demanding tighter controls on sub-contracting to prevent migrant workers being exploited in a two-tier labour market. With more contracting out in the public sector and then further sub-contracting it becomes harder to monitor the application of collective agreements and unions want more effective legislation to solve this problem. A recent case taken up by the electricians’ union exposed how Turkish employees of a sub-contractor were not being paid the agreed rates
Unions organise action in asylum service
The CGSP/ACOD and SLFP/VSOA trade unions have organised industrial action in Fedasil , the national body dealing with asylum seekers. The unions say that employees should be transferred to federal civil service status rather than being on fixed-term contracts that guarantee only the minimum civil service pay levels. The union want a proper process of social dialogue to deal with the problems facing the service. [Read more at > CGSP (FR)->http://www.cgspadmi.be/%28S%28vtqkm1rr24uohei02u4rtv55%29%29/ShowPage.aspx?PageId=102] [And at > Le Soir news website (FR)->http://www.lesoir.be/actualite
Planned general strike called off following offer of referendum
Public sector unions have called off a series of actions next month that could have lead to a general strike on 10 December. The unions were demanding a referendum on trade union and employment rights but have now got the agreement from the government that a referendum will be held that would reduce the threshold of signatures required to call a referendum from 450,000 to 200,000. This will be on the same day as the referendum on joining the European Union. [Read more at > Bloomberg news website (EN)->http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-24/croatia-general-strike-canceled-on-referendum-accord
Social carers work unpaid overtime
A new survey by the FOA public services union has found that as many as half of all employees in elder care, day care and psychiatry continue working unpaid after their normal working hours to finish their job. The survey also found that a reduction in staff hours has also lead to many care workers working alone and so face more pressure and stress. The union is urging its members to stick to their paid working hours and make management aware of what they can do within those hours and the additional resources needed to deliver proper services. [Read more at > FOA (DK)->http://www.foa.dk
Cleaners' campaign secures living wage
In future contractors working for the University of East London will have to pay their workers at least the living wage. Currently, the living wage for London, as calculated by the Greater London Authority, is £7.85 an hour (€9.30). This is higher than the official national minimum wage of £5.93 (€7.00) an hour for workers aged 21 and over. The University agreed to introduce the living wage minimum following a campaign by cleaners organised by UNISON with the support of academic staff and the London Citizens community group. [Read more at > UNISON (EN)->http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack
Union targets €7.50 an hour minimum wage
Chair of the vida services union, Rudolf Kaske, has said that the union is aiming for a minimum wage of at least €7.50 an hour (€1300 a month for a 40-hour week) across its agreements. This would be achieved, for example, in the cleaning sector from 1 January 2011 where there will be a monthly minimum of €1302. Kaske said that the very high level of collective bargaining coverage in Austria meant that unions were not in favour of a legal minimum wage although they had to address those sectors where there was no coverage by collective agreements. [Read more at > vida (DE)->http://www.vida.at
European Union officials to get full pay rise
The European Court of Justice has ruled that national governments cannot block the implementation of an agreed formula for pay increases for European Union officials. The formula is linked to pay increases in a number of member states and the latest increase is for 3.7%. National governments had called for an increase of only 1.85% in recognition of the cuts being imposed on many public sector workers across Europe. [Read more at > euractive news website (EN)->http://www.euractiv.com/en/pa/eu-officials-win-pay-rise-battle-with-member-states-news-499987?utm_source=EurActiv+Newsletter&utm
Dispute over redundancy pay scheme continues
The PCS civil service union has criticised the government for refusing to support a proposal for changes to the redundancy compensation scheme that would provide better protection for lower paid workers. The government is pressing ahead with changes that would introduce new limits of 12 months’ pay for compulsory redundancy and 15 months’ pay for voluntary redundancy in the short term, with the prospect of a 21-month maximum for voluntary redundancy in the longer term. [Read more at > PCS (EN)->http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/92C93EA6-57A4-4A5F
Global federations sign agreement with GDF-Suez
EPSU’s sister organisation PSI was one of three global union federations that have signed a framework agreement with the energy and environmental group GDF-Suez. The agreement covers fundamental rights, social dialogue and sustainable development. It commits GDF SUEZ, the three Global Union Federations, and trade unions to cooperative social dialogue to achieve additional agreements, including on training, occupational health and safety, restructuring, and sustainable development and climate change. [Read more at > PSI (EN)->http://www.world-psi.org/TemplateEN.cfm?Template=/ContentManagement