France
Energy sector unions were pleased with the level of support for their protests on 18 October and are meeting to plan the next stage in their campaign against government plans to reduce benefits in their pension schemes. The changes would require more years of contribution to secure full benefits and pose a threat to the defined benefits system.
Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)
Unions in the CGTP confederation are organising a national demonstration on 25 May in protest at the latest austerity measures being imposed by the government under pressure from the the troika of the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. Included in the measures are 30000 public sector job cuts, an increase in weekly hour for public sector workers from 35 to 40 without any increase in pay and an increase in retirement age to 66. [Read more at > STAL (PT)->http://www.stal.pt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1210&Itemid=240] [And at > EPSU (EN)-
Following a ballot of its members in March, PCS, the main civil service union has called a national strike on 10 May coordinated with other unions in the public sector with further national action coordinated with other unions at the end of June. The union is also planning regional protests and rallies on 10 May and action short of a strike including an overtime ban from 11 May until the end of June. Read more at > PCS (EN)
The CGT union federation is continuing its campaign against the privatisation of the GDF gas company through merger with the Suez private utility. The union claims that half of GDF employees joined the strikes and demonstrations that took place on 3 October and the next mobilisation is for regional demonstrations on 14 October. The FO federation is also opposed to the merger and following a National Assembly vote in favour of the privatisation, FO is targeting members of the upper house, the Senate, to reject the proposal. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/IMG/pdf
