2011 March epsucob@NEWS 05
Deal agreed in regional government
A new collective agreement covering 580,000 employees in regional government has been approved by ver.di’s collective bargaining committee. There will be a lump sum payment of €360 (€120 for trainees) plus a pay increase of 1.5% from 1 April this year. Ver.di estimates this to be worth around 2.3% overall. There will be a further pay increase on 1 January 2012, consisting of 1.9% plus €17 (€6 for trainees) that ver.di calculates as an overall increase of 2.55%. The union also believes that a new pay structure, coming into effect from 1 January 2012, will mean workers moving more rapidly to the
Unions come together in mass protest over austerity measures
The four main Lithuanian trade union centres – Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, Lithuanian Labor Federation, Lithuanian Trade Union „Solidarumas“ and Lithuanian Journalists’ Union – organized a national demonstration on 19 March calling for a higher minimum wage, more progressive taxes, and increases to pensions. Over 2,500 people joined the March including a delegation of 50 from the Lithuanian Energy Workers’ Trade Union Federation. Read more at > LDF (EN)
National protests against changes to labour code
The main trade union confederations organized a demonstration in Bucharest on 16 March in protest at changes to the labour code prepared by the government, in consultation with the IMF and the employers. The changes include: no collective agreements at national level, cross-sectoral or sectoral; greater possibilities to use temporary contracts; discretionary lay offs, decided unilaterally by the employer, without prior notice; and pay and conditions set unilaterally by employers. The confederations are collecting signatures for a general strike that could be organized in April-May this year
Civil servants vote on industrial action as cuts spread
PCS, the main civil service union, reports that around a third of its members in different government departments are currently voting on industrial action in response to a range of threats to jobs and working conditions as pressure mounts from public sector spending cuts. The union may also ballot for national industrial action over cuts and proposed changes to public sector pensions. This could be co-ordinated with other public sector unions. Read more at > PCS (EN)
Survey exposes excessive working hours and burn-out risk for health workers
The three unions organizing health workers in the public and private sectors, GdG-KMSfB, GPA-djp und vida, have collaborated with the Chamber of Labour on a major survey of health workers in Vienna and Lower Austria. The survey shows that with staff shortages many workers are facing long hours and deteriorating working conditions which raises important health and safety questions both for the workers themselves as well as patients. The unions also highlight the long-term problems of recruitment and retention as the ageing population and workforce will increase demand for care as well as making
Over 500 years to achieve equal pay!
The FOA public service union says that progress to equal pay in the public sector could take over 500 years if future agreements follow the one just negotiated in local and regional government. Although the agreement did include some provisions for tackling the pay gap, if progress was the same for each future round of collective bargaining over a three-year period then it would take 178 agreements to close the 18% pay gap in the municipal sector. The union argues that parliament needs to contribute to the process and pass the legislation and agree the funding that would ensure equal pay for
Union reveals pay gap between male and female-dominated sectors
The SKTF white-collar local government union has produced a new report demonstrating how workers doing the same job are on very different salaries depending on whether they work in a sector dominated by women or men. Taking the example of an economist, the union shows that on average the monthly salary for this occupation is Kr29500 (€3310) in the municipal sector (dominated by women) but Kr 41000 (€4600) in the private sector (dominated by men). SKTF is calling for a major initiative to address the problem involving employers, trade unions and the government. [Read more at > SKTF (SV)->https
Slow progress on equal pay, particularly among low paid
A review of progress by the JHL union towards closing the gender pay gap reveals that reforming pay structures has had some impact but mainly for higher paid workers. It also shows that equality plans have been positive in terms of work-life balance and issues like discrimination and harassment but have not made much difference in terms of pay. The key challenge set by the union is to be able to compare pay across different collective agreements. Read more at > JHL (EN)
Warning strikes organized in advance of third bargaining round
On 10 and 11 March, the ver.di services union organized warning strikes in 12 clinics belonging to the Helios group. The aim of the strikes was to show the strength of feeling of workers in the lead up to the third round of bargaining with the company, which has 17,000 employees across Germany and is part of the Fresenius health company. Ver.di had become frustrated by the employer’s failure to come up with a pay offer and is demanding a range of measures in a package worth around 7%. This includes increases in pay, including payments to trainees, along with higher rates for on-call and night
Strike planned at EON Italia
The three main union federations are planning a four-hour national stoppage in the EON energy company on 25 March. The strike is in protest at the company’s failure to discuss its long-term strategy and ensure, what the unions argue, would be adequate investments to protect employment in the company. The planned action was reported at the recent meeting of the EON European works council. Read more at > FILCTEM-CGIL (IT) And at EPSU (EN)
Survey shows pressure on living standards even before cuts really bite
A survey by public service unions UNISON and PCS reveals that thousands of workers are already having to tighten their belts even before the main round of cuts have been imposed on the public sector. The unions surveyed over 10,000 public sector workers with over 70% saying they have already cut back on their food shopping while spending on a range of other items, including healthcare has also been reduced. The survey also confirmed fears that a significant number of workers would consider leaving their pension schemes if plans to increase contributions and reduce benefits were to be
Unions plan further action on social services workers' pay
Nine trade union organisations are working together to improve the pay and conditions of the predominantly female workforce in a range of social service occupations. The unions believe that demonstrations on 16 March were crucial in getting the CSFPT committee responsible for local and regional government to withdraw plans to maintain a range of social service occupations in the B pay grade. Unions are calling for proper recognition of workers’ qualifications in the sector and for jobs to be moved up to the A salary grade. A further day of action is planned for 7 April. [Read more at > CFDT
Unions sign new agreement on municipal services
Municipal unions Fagforbundet, YS Kommune and Delta have signed a new agreement that focuses on working with the employers to improve local services. The agreement, a follow up to the initiative on quality municipal services run from 2005, includes several different elements including action on sickness absence, recruitment and competence, providing full-time work and improving the image of local government. The agreement comes shortly after scandals of low pay and poor working conditions in the care and waste sectors have been exposed, with temporary agency workers being exploited rather than
Further conflict possible in municipal sector
Local government unions FNV Abvakabo and CNB Publieke Zaak are concerned that municipal employers will go back on their agreement to pay a 1% salary increase this year. The rise was dependent on union commitments to negotiate on delivering efficiency savings, reducing bureaucracy and modernizing the collective agreement. The unions are putting forward a range of measures and argue that the employers should take a longer term view rather than just focusing on the need to ensure that short-term efficiency savings justify the 1% pay increase. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www
Energy workers plan strike
Workers at the Narva power plant are planning possible strike action in support of their pay claim. The union is calling for pay increases of around 25% and for salaries in future to be linked to increases in prices. The union argues that pay has not been increased for three years while prices have been rising and the company has seen profits increase. Negotiations are continuing. Read more at > Estonian TV website (EN)
National demonstration against austerity measures
Thousands of people joined the national protest in Lisbon on 19 March organised by the CGTP-IN confederation. The demonstration brought together unions from both public and private sectors. The unions will follow this up 1 April, National Youth Day, with action focusing in particular on youth unemployment. Read more at > STAL (PT)->http://cgtp.pt//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2005&Itemid=1]
Federation protests over IMF pension proposals
On 11 March the FPSU trade union federation organised a protest outside the Kiev offices of the International Monetary Fund, calling on it to change its proposals to increase the pension age for women as well as the number of years of contributions to get a pension. The unions argue that they have alternative proposals to improve funding of the pension system that will be more effective than the cuts targeted at women. Read more at > FPSU (UK)
Report examines threat of outsourcing public services
The Unite trade union has published a new study that highlights the threat that outsourcing poses to the quality of public services as well as the issues of democratic control and accountability. The study also uses new data to indicate how private sector provision of public services often means poorer working conditions for the workers delivering those services. The report found that length of service tends to be much shorter but working hours much longer for employees of private sector companies providing public services than for publicly-employed workers. [Read more at > Unite (EN)->http:/
Second court decision backs right to strike against church employers
The regional labour court in Hamburg has rejected the claim by the church-run Agaplesion hospital that strike action by its employees was illegal. This is the second time that a regional labour court has ruled in favour of ver.di members who have taken strike action over pay and conditions. Ver.di is now calling on church employers to recognize that they are in a normal employment relationship with their workers and so should negotiate collective agreements with the union. Read more at > ver.di (DE)