Unions win some changes to trade union bill

Strike action by engineers employed by the Centrica gas company has won some concessions from management over their pension arrangements. The engineers took action to try to keep their final-salary pension scheme open to new recruits. Unfortunately, the union was unsuccessful in achieving this but has won some guarantees from the company to allow all current employees and new recruits to join up to the end of March this year. The company has also promised extra funding to ensure the scheme is maintained for current members. [Read more at > GMB->http://www.gmb.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp

Unions in the non-profit sector (health, social services, social housing) have been campaigning for years for increased funding for the sector that would boost employment and allow for better pay and conditions. The latest demonstration in Brussels took place on 14 September. Some elements of an agreement signed in 2001 have still not been implemented in Brussels where workers are still waiting for their 13th month salary and allowances for transport costs to be paid. There is now the promise of extra money and an agreement that would also cover the French-speaking community and Wallonia

Trade unions are continuing to campaign against the Trade Union Bill which, if passed in its current form, will particularly impact on public sector unions. They will be faced with thresholds for vote for strike action if deemed to be in "important" public services and will also be hit by proposals to end employer deductions of union contributions and to reduce facility time for union officials. The government has withdrawn some planned restrictions relating to picketing and use of social media in strikes but the main anti-trade union measures remain. EPSU and PSI have been supporting the