Latvia
The Trade Union of Health and Social Care Employees of Latvia (LVSADA) organised a picket in the capital, Riga, on 8 March, calling for an increase in salaries and improvement of working conditions for social workers and women working in social care and assistance. The LVSADA has been negotiating with Riga City Council since November 2006 and has tried to reach a solution on decent salaries in the social care sector from January 2007. Unfortunately all the union's efforts of the union have been unsuccessful. A survey by the LVSADA revealed that 98% of employees in the social care sector in Riga are women and 49% of them are main breadwinners in their families. Our social workers are standing for social peace. Therefore, considering that inflation in Latvia is 7%, the LVSADA is calling on Riga City Council to make appropriate changes to the budget and increase the salaries of social workers by up to 20%. It is time to encourage people who deliver very important public services.
[Thanks to our epsucob@ contact at the LVSADA for this story - please send in any news you have from your company or sector]
