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Oct. 09, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

ETUC warns of 84-year wait for equal pay unless action taken

Europe Europe

The ETUC has expressed alarm about the possible delay in publishing a draft directive on pay transparency. It says that the directive will provide important measures in the fight to reduce the gender pay gap. Without such initiatives, the ETUC has calculated it will take an average of 84 years to achieve equal pay across Europe. In some countries the wait could be even longer - with women in Germany and the Czech Republic having to wait until 2021. In France, the pay gap has closed so slowly over the last 10 years - by 0.1 percentage points - that it would take 1000 years to achieve equal pay.
Oct. 09, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

Nurses' union demonstrates over careers, pay and promotion

Portugal Portugal

The SEP nurses' union organised a protest outside the prime minister's office on 8 October as part of its long-running campaign to secure improvements to the system of career development and promotion. The union wants to see promotion opportunities unfrozen and on the basis of a range of measures that, among other things, properly recognise past work experience. The union also has several specific demands on classification of certain jobs. The union argues that these measures are even more important than any promise of bonuses. EPSU sent a message of solidarity.
Oct. 09, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

Health and social care unions plan strike action

France France

The national agreement on increased funding for health and social care, including increases to workers' pay has failed to meet all the key trade union demands. The unions are particularly concerned that the so-called " Ségur de Santé" (named after the street in which the Ministry of Health is based) does not ensure that all health and social care workers across the public, private and non-profit sectors will benefit in the same way. There is also continuing frustration that nothing has been done to tackle understaffing, excessive workloads and low pay specifically in social services. This is the main focus of the CGT strike and national day of action planned for 15 October. The CFDT is planning strike action on 13 October while FO will strike on 5 November unless the ministry of health commits to ensuring all health and social care workers benefit equally from the agreement.
Oct. 08, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

Potential strike action in two long-running disputes

Ireland Ireland

Public service unions may be involved in new industrial action in two long-running disputes unless the government intervenes. The Forsa trade union has already set dates for strike action to try to resolve the two-tier pay system affecting school secretaries. Following the announcement of the action the government has made a commitment to address the problem but the union wants to see concrete proposals before it calls off the action. Meanwhile, Forsa is joined by SIPTU and INMO in considering a campaign of targeted action across non-profit providers of health and social services - Section 39 organisations. An agreement last year secured pay rises for workers in these bodies in a process to restore pay after the cuts imposed during austerity. Some of these organisations are now saying they don't have the funds to implement the increases and the unions want the government to step in.
Oct. 08, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

Public services confederation calls 24-hour strike

Greece Greece

ADEDY, the public service confederation, has called a 24-hour strike on 15 October. It has a wide range of demands starting with calls for increased funding for healthcare, filling vacancies and taking appropriate anti-COVID 19 action with provision of personal protective equipment and extension and increase in allowances for dangerous and unhealthy work. ADEDY also wants to see action across the public services to tackle staff shortages and recruit more workers on permanent contracts and to stop privatisation.
Oct. 06, 2020
2020 EPSU Collective Bargaining News October no.19

Unions aim for catch-up pay rise

U.K. U.K.

UNISON, GMB and Unite, the trade unions representing non-teaching staff, have joined with teaching unions in setting out their pay claim for colleges of further education. The unions are calling for a significant move towards the full restoration of pay levels to where they would be had college pay kept pace with inflation since 2009.  They also want to see the living wage, as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation, to be the minimum wage in the sector, with all colleges in England becoming accredited living wage employers with the Foundation. The unions also want all contracted-out services to be brought back in-house with improvements in terms and conditions equal to those already directly employed by the college.