General strike call follows action in local government

Public sector unions have called off a series of actions next month that could have lead to a general strike on 10 December. The unions were demanding a referendum on trade union and employment rights but have now got the agreement from the government that a referendum will be held that would reduce the threshold of signatures required to call a referendum from 450,000 to 200,000. This will be on the same day as the referendum on joining the European Union. [Read more at > Bloomberg news website (EN)->http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-24/croatia-general-strike-canceled-on-referendum-accord

Public service unions in the Frente Comum have called a national demonstration of public administration workers on 6 November in protest at the government’s decision to freeze public sector pay, increase VAT, freeze promotion and a range of other measures aimed at cutting costs. Unions will also be building for the general strike on 24 November called by both the CGTP and UGT trade union confederations in protest at the government’s austerity policies. [Read more at > STAL (PT)->http://www.stal.pt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=557&Itemid=1] [And at > SINTAP (PT)->http://www.sintap

The FP CGIL public services federation has reacted to government plans to cut public spending by organizing a national demonstration on 12 June and this will be followed by a national public strike in most regions on 25 June (with action in some regions on 2 July). The cuts will have a direct impact on public sector workers’ pay. Previously agreed pay increases will be reduced and workers are also likely to lose the productivity-related elements of their salaries. [Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/14342] [And at > FP CGIL (IT)->http:/