2011 November epsucob@NEWS 18
Government offer on pensions not enough as more unions back strike action
The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) is one of the latest public sector unions to vote in support of strike action over pensions on 30 November. The coalition government has made some concessions but unions still argue that they have failed to address the fact that most public sector workers will be working longer and paying more for a lower pension. Unison has also vigorously responded to attacks on the level of turnout in the ballots. [Read more at > UNISON-> http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2516] [And at > PCS->http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and
Water workers make gains after all-out strike
Members of the CGT, UNSA and FO trade unions were united in all-out strike action in the second half of October to support their claim for a €250 monthly bonus for all sewage workers in the Paris region. Management resorted to intimidation and sent letters directly to all strikers giving them an ultimatum to end the strike and withdraw pickets or face legal action and arrest. The unions decided to return to work having accepted a monthly bonus of €75 for those mainly involved in maintaining sewage works and systems (€50 or €25 for other technicians). The unions remain united and will discuss
Union organizes protests over pay and conditions in Public Employment Service
The FSP-UGT public services federation organized protest action starting on 26 October over the deterioration of pay and conditions in the Public Employment Services. The union says that inadequate staffing has lead to some employees taking work home to try to maintain the level of service. The federation says that there also problems in relation to pay levels and other working conditions, problems which were made more challenging following the merger with the Fogasa wage guarantee fund. [Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/La_FSPUGT_protesta_por_el_grave_deterioro_de_las
Conservatives put minimum wage on the agenda
The CDU, the main centre-right party in the coalition government, will be debating a minimum wage at its congress this month. Trade unions see this as step forward from the outright opposition expressed by the party so far. One proposal is that the social partners are involved in setting minimum wages in sectors that are not covered by collective agreements. Ver.di also reports that recent studies commissioned by the government show no negative impact in terms of employment from the introduction of minimum wage regulations in a number of sector. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://www.verdi.de
No response to unions' 4.65% pay claim
Public sector unions GÖD and GDG-KMSFB have submitted a 4.65% pay claim for 2012. The amount is based on compensation for inflation (2.95%) plus a half of the overall rate of economic growth (3.45%). The unions say they are determined to secure an increase in purchasing power for all public sector workers. Read more at > GDG-KMSFB (DE)
Unions organize action in support of local authority pay claim
The FNV Abvakabo and CNV Publieke Zaak trade unions organized demonstrations in Rotterdam and the Hague on 2 November in protest at the break down of collective bargaining in the sector. The actions stressed the way that work in the sector was being “dehumanized” with money now more important than the quality of work and the quality of services. Further actions were being planned in Nijmegen, Eindhoven and Leidschendam. Read more at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)
10 days of action at EON over threat to jobs
Between 27 October and 7 November workers at the EON energy company will be involved in a range of actions – demonstrations and workplace meetings – in protest at the company’s restructuring plans. As many as 11000 jobs worldwide, including 6500 in Germany, could be cut and the company is not ruling out compulsory redundancies. Ver.di is not only critical of the plans but also of the failure of the company to provide any detail of the job cuts and where they will fall. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
Unions working hard to finalise agreements
Public sector unions including JHL are working hard to try to negotiate sector-level agreements to implement the framework agreement that has been agreed between confederations and employers at national level. The 25-month agreement allows for a 4.3% increase in costs and employers in the public sector have been looking to leave this for local negotiations but JHL wants to ensure all employees get the same increase. They also want some qualitative elements in the deal including giving individual workers more control over their working time as well as an end to discrimination against part-time
Union challenges health service on use of agency labour
The SIPTU general union has criticized the Health Services Executive for widespread use of agency staff at a cost of €129.9 million in the first eight months of 2011. The union says that the Executive has resorted to agency workers because of the freeze on the recruitment of permanent staff. Read more at > SIPTU (EN)
European Commission unions threaten strike action
Trade unions represented European Commission staff organized a rally on 9 November and have threatened strike action in response to European Commission plans to cut 5% of all staff, increase the working week and raise the retirement age. The EU staff unions are also angry that Member States are putting pressure on the Commission to cut staff pay rather than apply the agreed pay formula that links increases to the pay increases in eight Member States. [Read more at > European Voice news website (EN)->http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/imported/staff-unions-threaten-strike-over-pay-and-perk
Union challenges bonus scheme to reduce sickness absence
The FOA public services union is critical of an initiative to reduce sickness absence by the Billund local authority in the Southern Denmark region. The council is paying an attendance bonus and it may be taken up by other municipalities. FOA argues that if sickness absence seems to high then there this raises questions about management responses and understanding the causes. The union makes the point that it people should not be forced to go to work if they are ill, particularly when they are working with the young, the sick and the elderly who would be more vulnerable to any contagious
Action planned in private waste sector over pay and safety
The four main trade unions in the private waste sector, including EPSU affiliate FP-CGIL, are planning strike action over a new agreement as well as safety issues in the industry. There will be a week of action from 6 to 13 November that will involve an overtime ban and other action while a day of strike action will be followed by two more if there is no response to the unions’ demands for measures to deal with safety and job insecurity in the sector. Safety is a major concern following deaths of workers in recent months. [Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages
Union focuses on urgent staff shortages in social security
The SINTAP public service trade union met with the Secretary of State for Social Security last month to discuss the major staff shortages affecting the department. A wide range of posts are unfilled and a report of the latest situation is due to be finished by the end of November and will be discussed with the union at the beginning of December. Despite the difficult circumstances the union believes there is scope for negotiation, highlighting in particular to address problems with the pay and career structure. Read more at > SINTAP (PT)
Scientists' union organizes demonstration
Around 1000 members of EPSU affiliate the Trade Union of the National Ukrainian Academy of Sciences took part in a protest outside the government and parliament on 19 October. They were calling for an increase in the Academy’s budget for 2012 not just to ensure better pay for workers but also to ensure that the Academy continued to maintain the level and quality of its research work.
Bargaining focuses on purchasing power and jobs
Unions in the non-profit sector, covering a range of health and social services, are starting negotiations over a new federal agreement with their main focus on protecting purchasing power and increasing employment. There has been a review of occupations in the sector and on the basis of these changes in job descriptions, unions are looking for a new pay structure and arrangements that will provide progression over a career and will take account of length of service. In order to tackle the increase in workloads and stress, particularly in health sector jobs, the unions are looking for an
Care workers resume strike action
Care workers at Geneva’s university hospitals have resumed their strike action over their demands for a reevaluation of their jobs. They began their protests in the middle of October and at the beginning of November rejected an offer that would only have provided a salary upgrade for 430 of the 1117 workers. Read more at > SSP-VPÖD (DE)
Average industrial wage target for bus drivers
The Fagforbundet public sector trade union has set a target for bus drivers’ wages for next year’s negotiations. The aim will be to get bus drivers’ pay in line with the average wage in the manufacturing sector. Currently drivers are paid around NOK 25000 (€3200) less than the target. The negotiations will also look at drivers’ hours and in particular weekend work with a view to addressing issues around work-life balance. Read more at > Fagforbundet (NO)
Workers in sheltered employment demonstrate over agreement and cuts to services
Demonstrations in Tilburg and Arnhem on 8 and 10 November have been organized by workers in sheltered employment in support of their claims for a new collective agreement but also in protest at the massive cutbacks across the sector. The VNG local authority employers want to freeze pay while the government is planning to cut 70% of the 100,000 jobs currently available in sheltered employment. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Church employees demonstrate over right to strike
Over 1,500 church workers joined a demonstration in Magdeburg on 4 November organized by services union ver.di over the right to strike. Church organisations are major employers in the health and social services sector but are opposed to granting normal employment rights to their workers. The synod (parliament) of the evangelical church met that day and reaffirmed its rule banning employees from taking strike action. Ver.di regretted the decision and said that it would only servce to sharpen the conflict between the union and church employers. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://www.verdi.de
Health minister tours hospitals to tackle doctors' protest
Over 2,400 out of 6,500 hospital doctors are taking part in a mass resignation protest that could see them leave their posts as of 1 December. The protest is against government plans to turn hospitals into joint stock companies and is calling for higher pay for health workers and increase health funding. The health minister is touring hospitals to try to persuade doctors to withdraw their resignations. Read more at > Slovak Spectator news website (EN)