Public service unions sign new agreement to improve rights of public sector employees

The four public service federations - FSAP-CCOO, FSP-UGT, CSI-CSIF and CIG - have signed a new collective agreement covering around 6,000 employees who work in Spain's embassies, consulates and other overseas organisations. A strike by workers in embassies in Scandanavia was the most recent action in a long-running campaign by the unions to secure proper employment conditions for these workers. In fact, it has taken 15 years to secure this agreement which mirrors the main provisions on hours, holidays and other conditions in the principle public sector framework agreement. [Read more at > FSAP

On 13 July all nine trade union federations in the public service signed a new agreement on telework covering the whole of the public sector. The framework agreement requires employers across the three pillars of the public sector – local authorities, ministries and hospital services – to begin negotiations to implement the agreement at local level by 31 December this year. The agreement covers all the key issues relating to the voluntary nature and reversibility of telework, health and safety, gender equality, data security and privacy and working time and the right to disconnect. The