Despite the problems of restructuring, large-scale job cuts and declining union membership, a report from EIRO suggests that unions in the health sector have managed to make progress in collective bargaining. A new collective bargaining round is underway over new two-year agreements. In the recent years the unions have won improvements in working hours and ensured that issues like violence and stress are covered in the collective agreements.
Read more at >EIRO
Social dialogue and collective bargaining in healthcare
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Collective bargaining challenges in healthcare
EPSU has collaborated with the SOZ ZaSS health union in producing an overview of recent developments in collective bargaining in the health sector. The article provides some background on the key negotiations and the challenges faced in securing improved funding for the sector as well as better pay and conditions for the workers. The situation is similar to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe and also raises questions about the potential of general healthcare unions to work with other organisations in the sector, particularly unions representing doctors. [Read more at > EPSU (EN)-
New approach on social dialogue and collective bargaining
The general secretaries of the two main trade union confederations - CCOO and UGT - met with employer representatives and the prime minister and employment minister on 18 March to discuss tripartite and bipartite negotiations over jobs, training, investment and other issues. The parties agreed that they had to undertake an urgent agenda of issues as part of a process of re-establishing both social dialogue including the government and direct collective bargaining with the employers. Also on the table is the question of a fairer tax system as well as the pay and employment in the public sector