epsucob@NEWS 28 November 2005

Public service unions in Austria have interrupted their annual pay negotiations with the government. The unions are angry over the threat to 15,667 jobs at federal, regional and local level as a result of government reforms. The unions are challenging the government over the question of how quality of public service can be guaranteed in the light of such large job cuts. [Read more at > EPSU->http://www.epsu.org/a/1555] [Read more at > GOED->http://www.goed.at/10843.html] [Read more at > GDG->http://www.gdg.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GDG/Page/GDG_Index&n=GDG_0.0.0.2.detail&cid

In the light of the Vaxholm case in Sweden [read more at > EPSU->http://www.epsu.org/a/1489], the Finnish president has confirmed her support for the maintenance of an industrial relations system based on collective agreements. This comes shortly after an important court victory for the Finnish transport union, FSU, when a London court confirmed their right to take strike action to defend their pay and conditions. The union had taken action in protest at plans by the Viking Line shipping company to reflag its ferry Rosella to Estonia so it could employ an Estonian crew on much lower pay. The

The services union ver.di has called on the new coalition government not to implement planned cuts to Christmas bonuses for civil servants. The union says the cuts are not justified and that public employees covered by the new collective agreement have lump sums and special payments and civil servants, who don't have collective bargaining rights, should have similar entitlements. The union argues that not only does this mean a cut in pay for civil servants but it will also be another blow to the economy, further undermining the very weak levels of domestic demand. Ver.di has also recently

EPSU affiliate LTUSE reports that the Lithuanian government has agreed an increase to the national minimum wage next year but it will be the third time that civil servants have missed out on an increase. The minimum monthly wage will increase to 600 LTL (173,77 euros) next July. This will be the third increase since 2003 but none of these increases have applied to state workers whose minimum wage is still 430 LTL (124,54 euros) a month, this is less than a third of national average earnings in Lithuania which are 1,331,50 LTL a month (385,63 euros).

Public services union UNISON is calling for a substantial pay increases for nurses, health care assistants, ambulance staff and other workers. The union argues that staff are hitting targets and have taken on new roles and responsibilities that have made the health service efficient. It is also arguing for a higher increase for the lower paid or a flat rate increase for all staff. Rather than a process of collective bargaining unions which organise nursing and related staff submit evidence to a government appointed pay review body. This recommends a pay increase to the government which then