2012 May epsucob@NEWS 09
Local government unions submit pay claim
The three main trade union in local government in Scotland have submitted their pay claim for this year and are calling for a minimum wage of £7.20 an hour (€9.00). The unions argue that low paid workers have been hit hard by the public sector pay freeze and local government workers did not even receive the £250 (€312.50) that was paid to workers in other parts of the public sector. The unions are calling for a flat-rate payment of £1000 (€1250), £500 for this year and £500 for last year. [Read more at > UNISON Scotland (EN)->http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/news/2012/mayjune/0805.htm]
Pay cuts challenge referred to European Court
The national courts have referred a case relating to public sector pay cuts to the European Court of Justice. The 10% public sector pay cuts imposed in 2010 have been challenged on a number of counts including equal treatment and potential infringement of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Read more at > European Court case website (multilingual)
Pay rises in prospect for public sector workers
With a new government and agreement from the International Monetary Fund, public sector workers look set to recoup some of the pay cuts imposed in 2010. The cuts in basic pay of 25% were partially restored last year with an increase of 15% but further increases are now being promised with a rise of 8% in June and then further increases worth another 7%. However, this does not take account of the cuts to bonuses and allowances that hit many workers and meant that some lost out by up to 40%. [Read more at > Reuters news website (EN)->http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/06/us-romania-politics
Clear opposition to decree on incentive payments
The CGT public services federation has taken a clear position in opposition to a recent decree allowing for incentive payments in the public services. The payment would be linked to collective performance but have been criticised by the CGT for undermining the basic nature of the public service and introducing the concepts of competition and profitability into the way services are provided. The union is also angry that the incentive payments would be financed on the basis of non-replacement of staff. [Read more at > CGT Services Publics (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/spip.php
Union underlines key conditions for longer working
The JHL public services has indicated how trade unions and employers can work together to improve working conditions as part of a strategy to encourage people to stay in work longer. Well-being and occupational safety have to be at the centre of this along with proper training for employees and managers. Additional training days were agreed as part of the latest public sector negotiations but JHL is concerned that employers ensure that these are provided. Read more at > JHL (EN)
Anti-austerity protests continue
Public service unions continue to be involved in the anti-austerity protests coordinated by the CMKOS trade union confederation. A week of action beginning 14 May will be followed by a another national demonstration on 22 May. The week of action will involve protestors occupying ministries as well as unions providing information to the public on the implication of the cuts to services. CMKOS will also consider the possibility of calling for a general strike. [Read more at > Czech news webstie (EN)->http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/czech-unionists-activists-to-march-through-prague-on-may
Local strike action against pay cuts
The GMB trade union is organising strike action at Cheshire West and Chester local council in protest at the municipalities attack on pay and conditions. Some council workers will suffer cuts of up to 15% in their pay if the changes are implemented. The strike action on 12 and 13 May is in addition to a continuing ban on overtime. Read more at > GMB (EN)
Further strike action against pension proposals
PCS, the main civil service union, and the Unite trade union with members in the central government and the health service took strike action on 10 May as part of their continuing campaign against government plans for public sector pensions. The two unions have joined forces with the NUT teachers' union in protest at the proposed pension changes and in particular the prospect of being forced to work to 68 to get a full pension. [Read more at > PCS (EN)->http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/pcs_comment/index.cfm/id/8DC5BBEF-B76E-48FC-B3E085582932BF52] [And at > Unite (EN)->http://www
Unions' referendum resoundingly rejects cuts package
The FSC-CCOO and FSP-UGT public service federations working with other trade unions that organise in the Valencia region have successfully campaigned for a massive rejection of the cuts package proposed by the regional government. The unions were delighted by the high turnout of 80% and will use the result to support their campaign against the cuts and services and reject any planned cuts in pay. A total of 42147 voted against the cuts with only 598 supporting the regional government plans. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)->http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Inicio:352311] [And at > FSP-UGT
Confederations present evidence to ILO
The CCOO and UGT confederations have presented evidence to the director general of the International Labour Organisation arguing that the government has infringed key ILO conventions on trade union rights and collective bargaining. The confederations maintain that the government's failure to negotiate over labour reforms and the rights of employers to unilaterally change employment conditions contravene conventions 87, 98 and 154. The unions also that the changes to employment law that make it much easier to dismiss workers contravene convention 158. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)->http://www
Firefighters take action over funding, staffing and pensions
The three main federations representing firefighters have announced a day's strike action on 18 June (postponed from 5 June). The unions are protesting over a range of issues including inadequate funding and staffing, pay, recruitment, the regulation of the system of voluntary firefighters and failure to recognise the dangerous and arduous nature of the job in terms of pension entitlement. Read more at FP-CGIL (IT) And at FP-CGIL (IT)
No progress in Provincial negotiations
The CNV Publieke Zaak union reports that there has been no progress in the negotiations covering Provincial Councils despite the breakthrough made in local government. A consultation of members over the employers' offer revealed a clear majority against and the reaction from the employers was to withdraw what they said was their final offer. The unions argue that the employers are showing little respect for members' efforts and dedication and further action by the trade unions is likely to follow. [Read more at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)->http://www.mijnvakbond.nl/Actiedreiging-CAO-Provincies
Employers reject childcare agreement
The FNV Abvakabo public services union reports that the employers' organisation has rejected the agreement covering childcare workers that we reported on in epsucob@NEWS issue no.6. The employers had offered the unions to continue negotiations but this was rejected. The proposed pay increases will not now be implemented and the unions argue that this will be a major blow to ensuring decent work in the sector and encouraging recruitment. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
State sector negotiations in mediation
Negotiations in the state sector have moved into mediation as there was some distance between the trade union demands and the response from the employers. The mediation process runs until 23 May and the trade union side has already given notice of its plans for strike action should the mediation process fail. Read more at > LO Stat (NO)
Union warns against threat to paid breaks
The FOA public services union has criticised employers for suggesting that paid breaks should be cut. A survey of the union's members in hospitals and elder care found a half reporting that their breaks were regularly disrupted with a fifth working through most of their breaks. The union says it would create chaos if paid breaks were cut and that staff would not be available to deal with problems during breaks if unpaid. Read more at > FOA (DK)
Trade unions call for action on equal pay
The FOA public services union has joined up with several other trade unions to call for government action to close the gender pay gap. The organisations, along with the Women's Council, have put forward a range of measures including more paternity leave and changes to the Equal Pay Act. The unions argue that segregation of the labour market is one of the key issues and that it should be possible to compare work of equal value across sectors. They are also calling for more transparency in wage data from employers. [Read more at > FOA (DK)->http://www.foa.dk/Forbund/Presse?newsid={C6E71856-823D
National protest over sewage workers' health and safety
The public services federation of the CGT has called a national demonstration for 29 May in defence of the health and safety of sewage workers in the public and private sectors. Official data shows that the life expectancy of sewage workers in Paris is seven years less than workers in general in the region and 17 years less than the national average. Changes to the pensions system have meant that sewage workers now have to work longer in the underground system in order to benefit from early retirement rights. While employees of private sectors don't benefit from these entitlements. The union
Social care law could drive down pay
Ver.di has criticised the liberal FDP health minister for using the existence of the minimum wage in the social care sector to justify ending the requirement on social care institutions to pay locally recognised pay rates. This could mean, for example, the going rate in one are of €14.95 an hour being reduced to the minimum rate (in the west) of €8.75. The minister argues that it is a bureaucratic burden to ascertain the local going rate. Ver.di has argued that the sector should apply the public sector rate but this was rejected by private employers. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->https://drei
Warning strikes help secure pay deal
Around 13000 employees of hospitals in Hamburg are set to benefit from a new collective agreement after 2000 took part in warning strikes earlier this year. A pay increase of 3.5% will be backdated to 1 March and two further increases of 1.4% will be paid on 1 January and 1 August 2013. In response to employee complaints about excessive weekend working there will also be a guarantee of 26 weekends free each year. Ver.di has criticised the employers for threatening some workers with the sack if they took action, particularly after the union had offered to negotiate an agreement on emergency