Spain
The CCOO and UGT trade union confederations organised 60 demonstrations around the country on 19 February in protest at the labour reforms being introduced by the centre-right government. The reforms will make dismissals easier and will undermine collective bargaining allowing company-level agreements to undercut branch-level bargaining and giving employers more scope to impose changes unilaterally.
Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)
And at > FSP-UGT (ES)
(Brussels 15 November) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) sends a message of solidarity and congratulates its Portuguese affiliates for the successful demonstration that took place in Lisbon
Strike action and demonstrations in over 140 cities across the country were part of a successful day of action on 10 October organised by the nine public sector trade union organisations. Unions estmate that over 400000 joined the national protests involving workers right across the public services. The day of action was in protest at government plans to freeze pay again and to cut jobs. The unions are due to meet the public services minister, Gérald Darmanin, and they will then meet together on 23 October to discuss whether and when to take further action. A contingent with EPSU banners
Public service federations were delighted by the level of support across the country for the strikes and demonstrations over pay and collective bargaining. In response the government has offered to meet for talks on 18 February. But unions are also concerned that at the same time the government is talking about restricting the right to strike in the education sector. Unions want proper negotiations to begin in the first week of February and are calling on members to maintain pressure on the government through local actions and in particular during the “week for public services” organised by
