Warning strikes across the public sector

The vida and GPA-djp services unions organised warning strikes involving over 40000 workers in more than 140 private health and social care institutions on 15 and 16 February. The strikes were called in order to put pressure on the employers to come up with an improved offer in the current negotiations over a new collective agreement that covers around 100000 workers in the sector. The unions want a recognition of the increasing workloads faced by many workers, with an appropriate pay increase and a cut in working time to 35 hours a week (see also last issue of epsucob@NEWS 03, 2018).

The SSM trade union federation organised strike action across the public sector on 22 June. With inflation hitting double-figures, the federation is demanding a 2806 denari net (€45.5) increase for public sector workers in line with the increase in the national minimum wage. The union has been negotiating with the government with a view to achieving a pay increase this year had understood that the government would sign a collective agreement including a pay rise and discussions on future increases. However, it then became apparent that the resources to fund the pay rise had not been included

Despite improved economic growth, real wage increases across Europe are averaging only 0.4% this year compared to 1.5% last year, according to the latest report from the trade union linked WSI research organisation. In several countries - Austria, Greece, Portugal and France - there is virtually no change in real wages while six countries - Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Finland, Belgium and the UK - are looking at a fall in real wages. The WSI points out that calls for an increase in pay to boost economic demand are even coming from the European Commission and European Central Bank. These are