Health

Psychiatric hospital workers across Bulgaria, represented by the Federation of Health Trade Unions at CITUB , have launched protests demanding higher wages and improved working conditions. On 17th March, doctors, nurses, and support workers at the state psychiatric hospital in Sevlievo began a three-day action, calling for a 50% wage increase and recognition of their work as second category due to its complexity and risks. Workers in psychiatric hospitals in Pazardzhik and Tsarev Brod have joined the protests, with further action planned in Karlukovo on 18th March. The union demands include a

Since 7 March, workers at the Belgrade City Center for Social Work , organised by the Trade Union of Health and Social Care Workers "Nezavisnost," have been striking against understaffing, excessive workloads, and low wages. W orkers are calling for urgent measures to improve staffing levels, reduce excessive workloads, and introduce fair wages that reflect the complexity and responsibility of their jobs. They also demand an end to temporary contracts, Instead of addressing these concerns, employers have responded with salary cuts and threats of dismissal. Further escalating tensions, Zoran

On 20 March, nurses from Lisbon’s health centres will strike and hold a rally at the Ministry of Health at 10:00 am. Organised by SEP , the strike demands the payment of all retroactive wages since 2018, the completion of competitions for managerial and specialist positions, and harmonisation of pay and resources across units. Nurses are also calling for the implementation of the “career accelerator” and urgent hiring to meet service needs. The union argues that the integration of Lisbon’s health centres into new local health units (ULS) in early 2024 has worsened administrative and financial

Turkish trade unions have launched several industrial actions in response to unfair dismissals, union-busting, and deteriorating working conditions across multiple sectors. On 6 March, Hizmet-iş protested against the local municipality’s dismissal of 14 union members and pressure on 1,300 others to resign from the union. The dispute follows failed collective bargaining talks with Altındağ Municipality’s which refused to honour a previous agreement and attempted to roll back wage increases. Union representatives condemned the employer’s actions and vowed to resist until all dismissed workers

Fórsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have served notice for industrial action in Ireland’s public health system, starting on 31 March 2025. The dispute stems from chronic understaffing, worsened by a government-imposed hiring freeze that has left critical healthcare positions unfilled. The Health Service Executive (HSE) and publicly funded Section 38 hospitals have faced escalating recruitment restrictions since 2023. What began as a limited hiring pause expanded into a full freeze, preventing the replacement of vacant posts. Despite repeated union demands, the HSE has

Healthcare workers in Section 39 organisations have overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action in a ballot initiated by SIPTU . The ballot saw 96% support for industrial action on a 70% turnout, highlighting strong backing for the union’s demands. Section 39 organisations, which are privately owned charities and agencies contracted by the State employ thousands of workers who will be affected by the action. The dispute involves 21 organisations that provide essential health and social care services, including disability services, elder care, home support, mental health services, and

The collective bargaining negotiations for church-owned hospitals in Austria, led by the union Vida , concluded in the fifth round, securing a 2.9 percent increase in wages and allowances. The agreement aimed at achieving higher pay so that the purchasing power of workers is maintained. Union members approved the agreement by a clear majority. The “transport ticket” was highlighted as a particular success, providing a monthly mobility allowance for public transport. Other improvements include increased on-call pay to €46.75, enhancements to the stand-in allowance, and adjustments in

On 13 March, the Slovak Trade Union of Health and Social Services (SOZ ZaSS ) is leading a protest in Bratislava to demand fair pay and better working conditions for workers in social service and underpaid staff in the healthcare sector. The demonstration, held during the Conference of Chairmen of Basic Organisations, will take place under the slogan “Our hands are full of work, our pockets are empty.” The union is making it clear: workers have had enough. Inflation is driving up living costs, workloads are increasing, and wages remain too low for many to support their families. Staff

The German public service union Ver.di has called for a nationwide warning strike in hospitals, care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and emergency services on 6 March. The action follows growing frustration over stalled negotiations in the federal and municipal public service sector, where employers failed to present an offer in the second bargaining round in mid-February. Ver.di is demanding an 8% pay rise, or at least €350 more per month, alongside higher bonuses for work during stressful and inconvenient hours. It is also calling for an increase of €200 per month for training allowances

A nationwide 24-hour strike in Greece on 18 February 2025, organised by ADEDY, saw widespread participation across various sectors. The action was called to support workers in special healthcare programs under DYPA (formerly OAED), who have long demanded equality with other workers on fixed-term contracts and the correction of wage disparities that have persisted for eight years. The strike covered employees in numerous public health institutions , including the National Organization for Medicines (EOF), National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY), and other central health

Kommunal , the Swedish municipal workers' union, has reached an agreement with Almega Vårdföretagarna (Swedish Healthcare Employers’ Association) on new daily rest regulations for private sector workers in healthcare, elderly care, and personal assistance. The new rules, set to take effect on 1 September 2025, fully implement the 11-hour daily rest requirement under the Working Hours Act and clearly define the conditions under which exceptions can be made. Previously, some workers in Sweden’s healthcare and social care sectors, including personal assistants, had rest periods shorter than the

Dentists working in the public sector held a one-day strike on 14 February to protest against heavy workloads, low wages, inadequate working conditions, and deteriorating employment rights. Supported by SES trade union , the strike highlighted issues such as understaffing, increasing patient numbers, short appointment times, and widespread burnout in oral and dental health services. Demonstrations took place across the country, with dentists calling on the Ministry of Health to improve working conditions, address material shortages, and hire more support staff. Their demands include involving

More than one million workers in the UK are on zero-hours contracts, with a significant number employed under these terms for extended periods, according to new analysis by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) . The data reveals that about 720,000 zero-hours workers have been with the same employer for over a year, and 130,000 have remained without full employment rights after a decade of service. Zero-hours contracts , which offer no guaranteed working hours, are most prevalent in hospitality, retail, and the health and social care sectors. The TUC argues that the widespread use of these contracts

Belgium’s unions FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV have announced a general strike for 31 March to protest against the Federal Government’s austerity measures. The unions are calling for the protection of automatic wage indexation, better pensions, and improved working conditions. They argue that the proposed policies undermine workers’ rights and social protections. The announcement follows a mass protest in Brussels on 13 February, where around 100,000 people demonstrated against cuts affecting public services, unemployment benefits, early retirement, and pensions. FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV have denounced

After more than six months of negotiations, the Marburger Bund’s collective bargaining commission has approved a new agreement with the Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA), officially ending the industrial dispute for doctors in municipal hospitals. Following the agreement, the union cancelled the strike that had been planned for mid-February. The deal includes an 8 percent salary increase over the contract's duration, with a 4 percent rise retroactive to July 1, 2024, followed by 2 percent increases in August 2025 and June 2026. On-call service fees, emergency service