Respekt@vpod is a network of migrant and other workers in the care sector which is campaigning actively over care worker rights and the practices of some private care providers. The network organised a demonstration outside the head office of the Home Instead Schweiz company to protest at the franchise system that the company operates. The system guarantees profits for the company while shifting all the risk to the franchisee and this creates a situation where the franchisee cuts costs with an impact on workers' rights. Examples include workers being pressured to sign away pension rights as well as being on call with no guarantee of pay and without being paid for all working time, including travelling between jobs.
Read more at > vpod/ssp (DE)
Care workers protest against private company
More like this
Union plans action against private care company
The FOA public services union has warned the Vikapleje private eldercare company that it will face strike action from 15 June unless it ensures that its employees are paid in line with the municipal agreement. The company provides services for the Halsnæs municipality north west of Copenhagen and FOA has been trying for some time to negotiate an agreement with the company along the lines of those it has with many other private companies. The union estimates that Vikaplege is costing workers as much as DKK 90000 (EUR 12000) a year in lower pay and pension benefits.
Union stages protests in private health company
Services union ver.di has organised a series of protest actions in the run up to the third round of collective bargaining at the private health company Helios. The union is demanding a significant improvement on the company’s 1% pay offer. The negotiations cover around 21,000 employees (excluding doctors) in 34 clinics. Ver.di initiated a range of actions including beaming slogans onto Helios buildings. It is highly critical of the way the company is treating its workforce in view of the extra efforts made during the pandemic. Ver.di argues that Helios is attempting to make savings to
Union declares conflict with private care company
(September 2016) The FOA public services union began strike action against the DK-Pleje care company on 1 September in protest at its refusal to sign up to a collectvie agreement. This is the first time the union has taken action against a private care company. It argues that DK-Pleje is undercutting reputable employers by paying its workers below rates agreed in the sector agreement and points out that the company has lost contracts with some local authorities because of the poor quality of care it provides. Read more at FOA (DK)