Negotiating for better pay and conditions in health

Germany

Services union ver.di is in negotiations with the VKA municipal employers’ association to improve working conditions in municipal emergency services. The union is calling for a maximum working week of 44 hours (down from 48) as a first step and other measures to protect the health of employees. Ver.di warns that more workers will leave the sector if this issue is not addressed and cites the Red Cross as an example where hours reductions are being achieved. At the end of November, ver.di agreed with employers to gradually reduce weekly working hours (including on-call time) from the current maximum of 45 hours to a maximum of 42 hours by 2028. A union survey of 7000 emergency service workers revealed long hours, high work intensity, physical and mental stress and 84% of respondents stated that, under current conditions, they would not hold out until retirement. Meanwhile at the SRH group of 13 clinics, ver.di is aiming for a 10.5% pay increase and a minimum of €500 a month for the 8200 employees of the non-profit organisation. Again a key argument is the need to recruit and retain more staff. Negotiations will continue in January.

More like this

Aug. 03, 2021

Union calls for more firefighters and better conditions

Italy

With forest fires and flooding posing increasing demands on the fire service, the Fp Cgil public service union has called for employee numbers to be increased to 40000. The union argues that the current complement of 35000 is inadequate with many firefighters working double shifts, longer hours and more overtime. Fp Cgil says that excessive workloads leave workers no time for training and is worried that in the next negotiations the fire service will actually push for longer hours rather than address the staffing shortage. The union says that recruitment is crucial to reduce the average age

 S
Jul. 27, 2020

€34 million boost for health and care workers' pay and conditions

Austria

After negotiations dating back to November 2018 the public and private sector health and care unions (younion, GÖD, GPA-djp and vida) have secured a €34 million package of improvements to the pay and conditions of workers in the Upper Austria region. As of 1 February 2021 qualified nurses, midwives and clinical social workers will get pay rises ranging from €97 to €194 a month. Improvements to other conditions include a second night shift in care homes with more than 60 beds, additional support staff and the right to full-time work for part-time staff. The measures will be implemented directly

 S