2011 April epsucob@NEWS 06

The VPÖD/SSP public service union is working with other trade unions to win support for a petition calling for a legal minimum wage. The union believes this is an important step to protect the pay of workers and as a way of undermining the case for privatisation. It is currently campaigning with cleaning workers in the Zürich region against plans to privatise the service. The VPÖD/SSP believes that a monthly minimum wage of CHF 4000 (€3,040) would be a major disincentive to privatisation. [Read more at > VPÖD (DE)->http://www.vpod.ch/aktuell/nachrichten/ansicht/article/drg-schulterschluss-von

New legislation will come into effect next month that will impose tougher sanctions on employers who fail to pay the minimum wage that has been negotiated in their sector. Restrictions on migration to Austria from the EU Member States in central and Eastern Europe will end at the beginning of May and the ÖGB trade union confederation argued for the new law on minimum wages to ensure that neither domestic nor foreign employers could exploit the opening of the labour market to avoid paying collectively agreed minimum wage rates. [Read more at > GPA-DJP (DE)->http://www.gpa-djp.at/servlet

Negotiations between unions and the NHO private sector employers’ organisation have delivered a NOK 6000 (€768) increase for lower paid workers – those workers who are paid less than 90% of the average wage in the manufacturing sector. The average wage in manufacturing is currently NOK 378573 (€48430) and so the 90% threshold is NOK 340715 (€43600). The deal also includes improvements to severance pay for older workers and an agreement that unions, employers and the government will work together on a seven-point plan on gender equality. The private sector deals includes companies involved in

The coalition government is moving closer to the abolition of the two-tier code that is an important element in the protection of the pay and conditions of public service workers. The code was negotiated with the previous Labour government and was established to ensure that private contractors providing public services would apply the minimum rates that applied in the public sector and that these rates would also apply to any new workers taken on. UNISON fears that abolition of the code will mean wages will be cut as private companies undercut the public sector and each other to win contracts

Municipal workers’ union Kommunal has published a new report that reveals a dramatic decline in the number of young people interested to work in elder care. It points out that the average salary for a nurse in the sector is several thousand less than that of an industrial worker, while working hours also make the job less attractive with frequent weekend service and split shifts. The sector has a high proportion of hourly-paid and temporary employment workers with 60% working part time. Kommunal wants legislation to provide a right to work full time. [Read more at > Kommunal (SE)->http://www

Ver.di members in regional government voted 83% in favour of the recently negotiated pay deal that runs to December 2012. The deal includes a 1.5% increase this year plus €360 as a lump sum. The increase in 2012 will be a flat-rate amount of €17 per month plus 1.9% which the union says is worth around 2.55%. Ver.di is now urging all regional governments (except Hesse and Berlin that have separate agreements) to implement the new agreement immediately. This is in response to threats from regional employers in Bavaria and Saarland not to honour the deal. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http:/

The two-year agreement in local and regional government has been approved by the members of the main municipal union FOA. The union was pleased about the 84% “yes” vote but conceded that the lack of enthusiasm for the deal probably explained the low turnout of only 32.6%. At the time of the last agreement in 2008, the turnout was 65.2%. The FOA hopes that the modest pay increase (0% in 2011 and 2.65% in 2012) will be acknowledged by the employers and that they won’t push for further cuts and job losses. [Read more at > FOA (DK)->http://www.foa.dk/Forbund/Presse?newsid={9996E381-3B22-4673-AB5B

Public service federations have been trying for some time to negotiate improved rights for around 900,000 workers in central and local government and the health service who have employment contracts rather than full civil service status. Although the unions want to see more of these workers given civil service status they have signed the current agreement in order to provide more protection for those on contracts. They are also pleased that the agreement acknowledges that civil service status should be the normal state of affairs in the three parts of the public sector. [Read more at > CGT (FR

The Federation of Trade Unions in Health Services (FTU-HS) organized a roundtable last month with the Bulgarian Association of Health Professionals (BAHP) to discuss how to tackle violence against healthworkers. The trade unionists and professionals were joined by government representatives. A study by the FTU-HS found 7.5% of health workers had been victims of violence with nurses making up the biggest group. The union said it would establish a committee with the BAHP involving also the Bulgarian Medical Association and patients’ organisation to look at ways of tackling violence.

Ver.di has attacked the government for failing to take account of two recent regional court judgements which backed the union’s right to organise strike action against church employers. In a recent statement the Labour ministry said that church organisations had a special status in relation to the constitution and the question of labour rights. Ver.di maintains that church employers are just like any other employers. They operate in the same labour markets, attempt to worsen pay and conditions and get together in employer associations. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://presse.verdi.de

The FSC-CCOO public service federation as welcomed the ruling from a administrative tribunal against the Ministry of Justice over minimum services during industrial action. The Ministry of Justice had set out excessive requirements for the provision of minimum services during the general strike on 30 September last year. The tribunal found that the Ministry had undermined the right to strike of public sector workers and the FSC-CCOO is particularly concerned to highlight the fact that it is the Ministry of Justice that is the subject of the tribunal ruling. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)->http

The public service unions’ campaign to secure improved pay and recognition of qualifications for social workers continues on 7 April. Demonstrations are planned around the country and the unions are calling for a meeting with the three ministers with responsibility for the sector. In the meantime, the government is pressing ahead with new regulations without any move to negotiate or consult with the unions. [Read more at > CGT Services Publics (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/spip.php?article4631] [And at > CFDT-Interco (FR)->http://www.cfdt.fr/rewrite/article/32965/secteur-professionnel