epsucob@NEWS 28 November 2005
Strike in justice ministry
The SINTAP union also organised a strike on 26th October strike in the Justice ministry, in protest against changes to retirement rules which increase the number of the years for calculating pensions and against the withdrawal of access to the health and social services for many public services workers. This strike was part of a week of protests in which all trade unions in the justice ministry participated. Read more at > SINTAP
Widespread support for general strike
Italian unions were pleased at the response to their general strike call on 25 November. The strike was in protest at government plans for the 2006 budget which include no provision for pay increase for public service workers and involve cuts to as many as 100,000 jobs currently done by workers on fixed-term contracts. The unions are also angry that despite having finally concluded negotiations over the pay increase for 2004-2005 the government has not agreed to fund the increases. Read more at > BBC
Threat to jobs interrupts pay negotiations
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
Backing for collective agreements
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
Solidarity support for sacked bus company activist
Unions in Veolia, the multinational which owns the Connex transport company, organised an international day of solidarity in support of Swedish activist Per Johanssen, sacked for expressing concerns about health and safety. In Finland, for example, bus drivers demonstrated their solidarity by stopping their buses for two minutes at 2pm. Read more at > EPSU Read more at > Finnish news site
More attacks on civil service pay and conditions
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
Civil servants denied minimum wage increase
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).
European solidarity for parliament cleaners
Cleaners from parliaments around Europe joined a demonstration in London to protest against the low pay and poor conditions of cleaners working at the Houses of Parliament. The TGWU general union backed by the UNI international services federation organised the demonstration and provided figures to show that the cleaners in the UK are among the lowest paid of any working parliaments in western Europe. Read more at > TGWU
Demonstrations and strike threat over government policies
Following a large demonstration in Valletta on 24 November, the General Workers Union in Malta is warning that it will organise strike action across the country on 1 December unless the government comes to the negotiating table. The union has attacked the government for increases to VAT and utilities charges and cutting public holidays. It is also warning of potential job cuts across nationalised industries including the water and energy sector. Read more at > GWU And at > dive news site
Health service pay claim
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
Further action against government policies
The STAL and STML public administration unions demonstrated in Lisbon on 25 November against government policy and pay and the rights of public sector workers. The unions want a pay increase that will begin to compensate them for the fall in public sector workers' purchasing power over the last five years. The unions warn further action is likely in December. Read more at > STAL
Pay rise of 3.5% demand for 2006
The FESAP public services union federation has set out its main negotiating demands for 2006. It is looking for a 3.5% in increase in pay and pensions. It is also calling for an opening clause in the negotiations in case inflation is higher than expected. The federation argues that public sector workers have seen their purchasing power fall by 8% since 2000. Read more at > SINTAP