Netherlands
The industrial relations observatory EIRO reports on the cutbacks to public sector jobs and changes to retirement provision that formed that background to this year's public sector negotiations. There are fears that if job cuts continued on their current trends service quality will be undermined while there is also concern that the public services are failing to recruit younger workers.
Read more at > EIRO
The CCOO and UGT trade unions have finally secured an agreement from the social security minister that firefighters will be able to retire any time from 59 depending on their contributions record. The unions had been involved in talks over the issue for four years and a demonstration on 24 May was their latest attempt to get the matter resolved. The current retirement age is 65. Read more at > FSAP-CCOO (ES) And at > FSP-UGT (ES)
After lengthy campaigning, negotiations and the legislative process, new retirement rules have come into effect allowing firefighters to retire earlier than 65. The new rules will be introduced in stages with the minimum age set at 63 for 2008 and then 61 for 2009. The minimum age from then on will be 60 or 59 if firefighters have at least 35 years of contributions. Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES) And at > FSAP-CCOO (ES)
The SETCA/BBTK services union reports that some employers in the non-profit health care sector are refusing to sign agreements setting out provisions for early retirement. The union believes the employers are following the example of the main FEB employers’ organization that has been calling for a hard line on early retirement. SETCA/BBTK argues that these provisions are very important for a sector that is characterized by difficult and stressful occupations and where pay levels are modest. [Read more at > SETCA (FR)->http://www.setca.org/News/Pages/Communiquedepresse2082010soinsdesante.aspx]
