2012 January epsucob@NEWS 01
Pay freeze in 2012 means 13% loss of purchasing power
The FSC-CCOO and FSP-UGT public service federations have criticised the centre-right government for imposing a further pay freeze in the public sector in 2012. The previous socialist government had imposed an average 5% cut in 2010 followed by a pay freeze in 2011. Unions estimate that the combined effect of these measures is that public sector workers will have seen the purchasing power of their salaries fall by 13% in real terms over three years. They have also criticised the freeze on recruitment, particularly at a time of such high unemployment and above all among younger people. [Read
Further strike action planned in private waste sector
The FP-CGIL public services federation along with the three other federations in the private waste sector (FIT-CISL, UIL TRASPORTI and FIADEL) are planning two further days of strike action on 16 and 17 January following the well-supported one-day strike on 29 November last year (epsucob@NEWS 20, December 2011). A central demand in the dispute is maintenance of the sector agreement, which is under threat as a result of demands to liberalise the industry. Read more at > FP-CGIL (IT)
Unions agree to further talks on local government pensions
The main municipal unions, UNISON and GMB, have agreed to undertake negotiations on changes to the local government pension scheme following commitments from the local government employers and the government. This follows the public sector-wide strike action on pensions on 30 November last year and confusion over the government position just before Christmas. The unions now think there is a reasonable framework for negotiations and that the feared significant short-term increase in employee contribution rates will not now take place. The Unite trade union has rejected proposals on the health
Unions challenge minister on low pay in public sector
Seven public service federations (CFDT, CFTC, CGC, CGT, FSU, Solidaires and UNSA) have written a joint letter to the Public Service Minister on the question of minimum pay and the purchasing power of public sector workers. The unions are unhappy about the unilateral decision by the ministry to increase the minimum salary in the public sector to bring it in line with the national minimum wage that was recently increased by 2.1%, while maintaining an overall freeze on public sector pay. The unions are calling for an increase to the index point on which all public sector salaries are based, along
Social care workers go for all-out strike
Members of the ver.di services union at the Pflegen und Wohnen social care company in Hamburg have voted 98% in favour of all-out strike action. Over 200 employees had already been involved in five warning strikes in an attempt to get the company to negotiate a new collective agreement covering all employees.. Those employed by the company before 30 June 2011 are still covered by an old collective agreement but there has been no pay increase since 2009. Workers taken on since 30 June 2011 are not covered by any collective agreement. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://www.verdi.de/themen
Unions strike over collective agreement, union rights and intimidation
Public sector unions in the KESK confederation took strike action across the country on 21 December. They had a range of demands including ensuring the right to strike and to take part in collective bargaining. The unions were also calling for the end to the harassment and arrest of their members and activists as well as basic demands for decent work and better pensions. [Read more at > Hurriyet news website (EN)->http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/health-workers-employees-in-public-sector-hold-day-strike.aspx?pageID=238&nID=9743&NewsCatID=341] [And at > KESK (TK)-> http://www.kesk.org.tr/node
Federal and local negotiations to begin on 1st March
Public services union ver.di is preparing for negotiations over one of the main public sector agreements that will begin on 1st March. These will cover Federal and Local Government; regional government workers are covered by a separate agreement. The collective bargaining committee for Federal and Local Government will meet on 9 February to decide on the main elements of this year’s pay claim. The agreement includes publicly-owned utilities and one of the aims of the negotiations will be to prevent a gap opening up between the public and private sector where pay increases recently have been in
Working time negotiations and advisory group
The European cross-sectoral social partners met on 8 December in Brussels for a first exchange in the process of negotiation on revisions to the Working Time Directive. EPSU general secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel is a member of the ETUC negotiating team. The next round of negotiations will take place on 10 February but before then (on 31 January) EPSU has convened an advisory group in order to discuss developments with affiliates within the EU and Candidate Countries. ETUC deputy general secretary Patrick Itschert is leading the negotiations for the ETUC and has been invited to the EPSU
Pay increase for state workers adjusted in line with private sector
State employees will see their pay increase by 1.3% on 1 April rather than the 1.7% forecast as part of the two-year agreement negotiated last year. This is part of the public sector pay mechanism that makes adjustments to keep pay in the state sector in line with developments in the private sector. Pay increases in the private sector turned out lower than anticipated. Read more at > OAO (DK)
Violence in prisons linked to cutbacks increased workloads
Intimidation, aggression and violence are still a major problem in prisons according to a new report by the labour inspectorate. The FNV Abvakabo trade union notes that there haven’t been any major improvements since 2008 when a plan to improve working conditions was formulated. A survey then identified problems in in 63% of institutions while the latest findings of the labour inspectorate indicate this figure has risen to 79%. The union argues that initiatives to tackle violence have been limited by spending cutbacks and it says that information received thanks to its hotline for staff
Municipal unions signs agreement covering technical workers
The Kommunal local government union has signed a new collective agreement with the EIO employers’ organisation. The agreement will cover workers employed by EIO companies that provide technical and property services to local and regional authorities. The agreement provides for adult rates of pay at the age of 18 with a minimum pay rate of SEK 16600 (€1875) a month rising to SEK 18000 (€2030) in the second year plus any negotiated increase. The agreement includes details on skills development, linking skill levels to pay. [Read more at > Kommunal (SV)->http://www.kommunal.se/Kommunal/Nyheter
Regional government agrees to minimum wage in contracts
The regional government of North-Rhine Westfalia has implemented new procurement regulations that include a requirement on contractors to comply with a minimum wage of €8.62 an hour. The rules also require compliance with collective agreements in the transport sector along with ILO conventions and measures relating to women workers and the environment. Read more at > WSI/Böckler (DE)
Living wage campaign boosts workers' pay by £33 million
A report by Queen Mary College, University of London estimates that low paid workers have seen their pay increase by £33 million (€40 million ) since 2010 as a result of a successful campaign to get employers signed up to a living wage. A number of major private and public sector employers in London have agreed to apply a £8.30 (€10.00) an hour minimum wage instead of the current £6.08 (€7.40) National Minimum Wage rate for adults. Employers are recognising the benefits of this in terms of increased productivity and lower turnover rates. [Read more at > Independent news website (EN)->http:/
Union takes atypical employment campaign to Minister of Labour
The JHL public services union has been running a campaign for equal rights for workers in atypical employment. Launched in May last year, the campaign aimed to highlight the discrimination against temporary workers, agency workers and the self-employed when compared to those on permanent contracts. The union marked the climax of the campaign just before Christmas when it presented a five-metre long scarf to Lauri Ihalainen, the Minister of Labour. The scarf had been knitted by lots of different people who had taken part in campaign events during the year. [Read more at > JHL (EN)->http://www
Union opposition to Temporary Agency Work Directive
The Fagforbundet municipal union will be joining other unions in a day of action on 18 January against implementation of the Temporary Agency Work Directive in Norway. Trade unions are concerned that the legislation will undermine collective agreements that set pay rates and limitations on the use of temporary agency work and will transfer final authority on these issues to the EU/EFTA court that rules on the implementation of EU legislation in Norway. Read more at > Fagforbundet (NO)
Freeze on public sector pay and pensions
Last month a law was approved that would see public sector pay and pensions frozen in 2012. However, a government spokesman did not rule out the possibility of increases but these would depend on the performance of the economy. Read more at > Nine O’Clock news website (EN)
Collective bargaining claim focuses on Improved conditions for young and temporary workers
The Vision white-collar union has submitted its pay and conditions claim to the KFS employers’ organisation. The claim covers Vision’s 7400 members who work for private companies providing services in local government, energy and water. As well as a general pay increase the union is calling for temporary workers to get permanent contracts if they have been on temporary contracts for two years. It also wants employees to have more control over their working time as well as additional leave for those with only 25 days’ leave. [Read more at > Vision (SV)->http://vision.se/Opinion/Pressmeddelande
Unions formally notify end of agreement
The three main unions that negotiate the Nursing and Care Home agreement covering 400,000 workers – FNV Abvakabo, CNV Publieke Zaak and NU’91 – have given notice to the employers, ActiZ and BTN, that they want to terminate the agreement and negotiate improvements. The current collective agreement runs until 1 March 2012 and the trade unions were concerned that if they didn’t give formal notice, then the employers would simply allow the agreement to run on for a further year without any changes. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/nieuws/nieuws/cao-vvt-opgezegd] [And at
Survey reveals risks faced by community nurses
The RCN nursing union has published a survey showing that over 60% of nurses working in the community have been subjected to physical or verbal abuse over the last two years. The survey also indicated that many nurses were not confident that their employer would take action in the event of such abuse. The RCN is advocating greater investment in risk assessment, prevention strategies and specialist lone-worker alarm systems. Read more at > RCN (EN)
Health unions negotiate with church hospital
Ver.di and the Marburger Bund doctors’ union acknowledge the initial progress that has been made in negotiations with the Oldenburg hospital run by the Protestant Church. The unions are aiming for a general pay increase from 1 January 2012 along with some changes to the framework collective agreement in line with developments in the public sector. This contrasts with industrial relations with other church-owned institutions where employers are refusing to negotiate with the trade unions. Read more at > ver.di’s special website (DE)