2013 May epsucob@NEWS 08
May. 31, 2013
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Museum workers next in line for industrial action
Workers at museums across the country took strike action on 30 May as part of the three-month campaign of industrial action organised by the PCS civil service union. The union is protesting against the government's refusal to negotiate on pay and jobs and it began its campaign with a national civil service strike on 20 March. A further day of national action could be called in June if the government makes no moves to negotiate. Read more at > PCS
May. 31, 2013
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Union says childcare money has disappeared in savings
The FOA public services union argues that much of the DKK 500 million (€67m) that was supposed to go to increased staffing in childcare has been siphoned off into savings by many local authorities. The union warns that staffing levels in childcare of a major concern and that a recent study shows that 47% of childcare institutions are not increasing staffing while 29% are actually cutting staff numbers. Read more at > FOA (DK)
May. 31, 2013
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Finnish state employer to join sectoral social dialogue
State sector union Pardia reports that the Minister of Finance has agreed to join the Central Government Administrations European Sectoral Social Dialogue committee. Pardia and public sector union JHL have welcomed the decision highlighting the issues that are being dealt with at European level that are also central to debates in Finland such as: the image of the central government as an attractive employer, reorganisations, anticipation of change and gender equality in pay. Read more at > Pardia (EN)
May. 31, 2013
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New public sector agreement out to ballot
After the rejection of the revised national public sector agreement (known as Croke Park II), unions are now taking different positions on a re-negotiated deal known as the Haddington Road agreement. The largest public sector union Impact had agreed to the original deal and will support the revised agreement saying this will protect certain conditions relating to flexible, part-time and overtime working for lower paid members and benefit higher paid members in recouping pay cuts. However, the CPSU civil service is maintaining its rejection saying that there have not been any significant
May. 31, 2013
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More collective bargaining news and new database
The ETUI has just published the latest edition of its collective bargaining newsletter with over 70 articles covering more than 30 countries. The newsletter also announces the setting up of a database of articles so that readers can now easily search back through past issues for articles on different countries and sectors. This month's edition includes several articles on public service developments in Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Slovenia. Read more at > ETUI (EN)
May. 31, 2013
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Union research shows 50000 cut in health jobs
The FSS-CCOO health service confederation has provided research showing that over 50000 jobs have been cut from public health services over the past two years. Between the first quarter of 2011 and the same period of 2013, 52,800 jobs were cut, 41,600 of which were temporary, with the vast majority going in 2012. The union says that it is clear that services are at risk as so many fewer workers are having to respond to increased demand from an aging population. Read more at > FSS-CCOO (ES)
May. 31, 2013
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Federation calls for negotiations over restructuring
The FSP-UGT public service federation is calling on the government to agree to a proper process of collective bargaining over a planned major restructuring of local and regional government. The union warns that 300,000 jobs are at risk and that there needs to be negotiations not just to protect workers but also the services they provide. The federation is concerned that the government is pushing through the measures simply to save money irrespective of the impact on services. [Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/FSPUGT_presenta_su_declogo_sindical_ante_el_anteproyecto_del_ley_de
May. 28, 2013
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Government gives mixed message on bargaining
The four public sector trade union federations - FP-CGIL, CISL-FP, UIL-FPL and UIL-PA - have made it clear that while they acknowledge the challenging situation, public sector workers should not continue to bear the cost of the crisis. They want a clear commitment from the government instead of statements on collective bargaining that are contradictory, suggesting openness to negotiation on the one hand while saying their is no scope for any bargaining for 2014 on the other. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)
May. 28, 2013
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Collective bargaining meeting report
Over 40 representatives of EPSU affiliates from more than 20 countries met in Brussels earlier this month to discuss a range of issues including plans for EPSU's main collective bargaining conference this year (16-17 December) and proposals for new research. The group also discussed improving the exchange of information and the concept of having a "common demand". Torsten Müller of the ETUI research organisation gave a presentation on economic governance and the impact on the public services. Read more at > EPSU (EN)
May. 28, 2013
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MEPs' report underlines role of public pensions
A report agreed in the European Parliament earlier this month emphasises that "the key priority of public policy should not be to subsidise third-pillar schemes, but to make certain that everyone is adequately protected within a well-functioning and sustainable first pillar". The report also stresses the need to increase the employment rate and to gradually introduce measures to ensure sustainable systems. Rather than a call to increase retirement ages, the report focuses more on bringing actual retirement in line with existing retirement ages. [Read more at > European Parliament->http://www
May. 28, 2013
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Trade unions essential for more paid leave
In a short briefing, Wir Machen Urlaub, WIPO Nr 7/13, ver.di underlines the important role that trade unions have played in winning the right to paid holidays and even better entitlement in collective agreements. Most workers covered by a collective agreement will get 30 days' paid leave compared to 25 where there is no agreement and 20 as guaranteed in law. Workers in mini-jobs may often be denied the legal minimum. This also contrasts with the situation in the US where there is no legal right to any paid holiday. [Read more at > 07/13 Wir Machen Urlaube (DE)->http://wipo.verdi.de
May. 28, 2013
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Unions sign agreement over future bargaining
Services union ver.di and the Marburger Bund doctors' union have reached an agreement with the social welfare organisation of the Protestant church in Lower Saxony. This marks a move away from the church's previous practice of excluding the trade unions. As a first step the unions negotiated a pay increase for the 30,000 employees of the church in Lower Saxony. Most workers will get 5.5% in three stages but the employers would only agree to 2.5% for workers involved in eldercare. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
May. 28, 2013
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Carers demonstrate over cuts to pay and conditions
Carers and their supporters demonstrated in Rochdale in the North West of England on 25 May in protest at plans by their employer, Future Directions, to cut their pay and conditions. The workers had voted for strike action on 25-27 May but this was blocked by court action. The company won a disabled care contract from Rochdale Council last October and then revealed plans to cut workers' pay and conditions. [Read more at > UNISON North West->http://www.unisonnw.org/future-directions-unison-members-determined-to-continue-fight-against-pay-cuts/] [And at > UNISON->http://www.unison.org.uk