2013 August epsucob@NEWS 13
Social care workers continue fight to defend pay and conditions
Further to the report in [epsucob@NEWS 10->http://www.epsu.org/cob/513], more than 100 employees of the Future Directions social care company are taking five days' strike action in defence of their pay and conditions. Public service union UNISON says that the company, actually owned by Calderstones NHS Trust, part of the national health service, won the contract in Rochdale in North West England knowing that it would have to make cuts. A demonstration took place in the town on 29 August and UNISON is calling on its local branches to support the strikers. [Read more at > UNISON->http://www
ver.di negotiates new church agreement
Services union ver.di, along with the GEW teaching union and GKD church trade union, has negotiated a new collective agreement with the protestant church covering the Berlin, Brandenburg and Oberlausitz region. Apart from one other regional church, this is the only collective agreement negotiated between the unions and the church. Ver.di hopes that it can become the model for further collective agreements, particularly in relation to the Diakonie - the social welfare organisations run by the protestant church that employ thousands of workers. The collective agreement is based on the regional
Survey reveals extent of reforms across public administration
A new report from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions reveals that central public administrations in most European countries are experiencing processes of profound reform and transformation. Some longer term reforms have been intended to achieve a clear citizen or customer orientation in the provision of services, greater efficiency in their delivery and increased quality. These have often involved privatisation, liberalisation and outsourcing. Apart from these structural reforms, the crisis has led to strategies primarily based on cost-cutting and cost
Court blocks civil servant dismissal law
The Constitutional Court has blocked government legislation that would have made it easier to dismiss civil servants. The law is part of a range of austerity measures that the government has planned to introduce as part of the bail out arrangements required by the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. Opposition parties also plan to challenge recent legislation that imposes a 40-hour week across the public sector - five hours longer than the current norm. [Read more at > euractiv->http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/portugal-top-court-rejects-labou-news
Care workers fight for their jobs
Members of the FNV Abvakabo public services union are campaigning to defend their jobs in the face of plans by the Sensire care company to dismiss 1100 employees. The company claims that it is forced into this position by local authority cutbacks, but the union argues that funding is still there for 2014 and above all there continues to be the need for home care services. Workers believe that the company wants to sack all 1100 and then rehire employees on worse terms and conditions. Secretary of State for health and welfare, Martin van Rijn, has intervened in the case but the threat of
Firefighters vote to strike over pension changes
Members of the FBU firefighters' union have voted by a large majority (78% to 22%) to take strike action over the imposition of pension changes including higher contributions and a later pension age. The union has consistently argued against increasing the pension age from 55 to 60 for active firefighters and provided substantial evidence to support the claim. It is also concerned that proposed increases in contribution rates will lead to many firefighters opting out of the scheme. The union had been involved with negotiations with the government over changes to the scheme but was then
Union lodges claim with private care providers
The Kommunal local government union has submitted a claim for improved pay and conditions to private care providers. Around 30,000 members in eldercare, care and treatment activities and care services and surgeries are covered by three agreements that are valid until 31 October 2013. The union is looking for a SEK 1740 (€200) per month increase in line with the increase awarded in local government. It also wants to see more done to get temporary workers on permanent contracts and to ensure that all working time is paid time. The union wants to see measures to reduce the use of split shifts and
Unions give cautious welcome to measures to reduce precarious work
The four main public sector federations - FP-CGIL, CSIL-FP, UIL-FPL and UIL-PA - have welcomed government plans to provide more secure employment for around 150,000 precarious workers in the public sector. However, the unions are also wary of what will actually be delivered. Taking account of continuing budget cuts and the freeze on recruitment, unions say that they remain to be convinced of what can be achieved without a real commitment from the government. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)
Ambulance staff plan strike against pay cut
Ambulance workers in Catalonia will strike on 9,10,11 and 12 of September if the ACAE employers' organisation doesn't retract a 9.2% cut in pay. The unions are due to meet the employers in negotiations on 6 September. The unions FSC-CCOO, FSP-UGT and USOC have been mobilising the 4200 workers during August with a major demonstration on Monday 26 August in front of the regional authority. The ambulance workers are angry about the unilateral decision to cut pay made during the holiday period and several protest camps have been set up outside company head offices. The unions estimate that pay
Union warns against changes to working time rules
The FOA public services union is warning the government against any plans to change working time rules that regulate night work. The union is aware that many of its members are happy to work at night but that this is the result of the extra allowances they receive and time off. The government is looking to make savings of DKR 12 billion (€1.6 billion) and FOA fears that the cuts will include cutting allowances and time off for night workers as well as allowing less time in notifying rosters. The union notes that already over one in five night workers are unhappy about inadequate advance notice
Report reveals true costs of privatising pensions
The ETUI trade union research institute has published a policy brief examining the assumed benefits of diversification of pension provision – reducing the reliance of individuals on one form of retirement insurance – currently a common focus of pension reforms. The report finds that the merits of diversification, particularly if pursued through privatization, are questionable. Not only are actual gains from diversification limited but private pension systems are not immune from regulatory risks or macroeconomic shocks. The report also points out that the costs of diversification through
Strike at Red Cross training institute
Members of the ver.di trade union at the Red Cross training institute in Berlin are on strike for higher pay and to ensure that old and new employees are on the same pay scale. The institute provides vocational training for workers with mental disabilities. The employers have not increased pay for 11 years and ver.di is calling for increases to bring pay levels in line with those in the main public sector agreements. The employers want the strike to end before any further negotiations take place but ver.di wants to see an offer of a significant pay increase first and one that begins to bring
Report reveals shows how care workers miss out on minimum wage
A new report by the Resolution Foundation, a research group focusing on low pay issues, reveals how many home care workers are effectively paid less than the minimum wage. The research shows that while formally workers are paid at or above the minimum rate of £6.19 (€7.24), they tend to lose out because their pay is linked to the time of their home visits. They are not paid for their travelling time and the amount of time for each visit is often less than the amount they need to deliver proper care. The Resolution Foundation estimates there could be as many as 220,000 home care workers paid
Four union organisations mobilise for 10 September over jobs, pay and pensions
The CGT, FO, FSU and Solidaires trade union organisations are mobilising for strike action and demonstrations across the country on 10 September. The protests are against the government's austerity measures, the long-term freeze in pay suffered by public sector workers and the latest problems to increase pension contributions and the number of years required to earn a full pension. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR)
Municipal union backs central framework agreement
The JHL public services union is calling for a new cross-sectoral framework agreement when the current local government agreement expires in February 2014. The union argues that a labour market framework with the participation of the government would best support economic growth and stability, as well as employment. It adds that the pay settlement should include a general pay increase and that it should take account of the need to maintain the economic situation of municipalities. Furthermore, JHL points out that structural changes in municipalities must be considered in collective bargaining
Care workers among those paid less than minimum wage
A new report from the National Insurance Institute reveals that between 10% and 12% of all workers are paid below the minimum wage. The report says that women and migrant workers are particularly affected and that although employers in the agricultural sector are the worst offenders, care workers, cleaners and catering workers are also among the occupations most likely to lose out. The Institute says that the government is appointing more officials to monitor and investigate infringements. Read more at > Jerusalem Post
Confederation criticises public sector agreement
KESK Press ReleaseThe KESK public sector confederation is highly critical of recent negotiations on pay between the government and the Memur Sen public sector trade union. KESK explains that it and another trade union organisation (Kamu Sen) were effectively excluded from the negotiations. Although the largest public sector organisation Memur Sen is seen as very close to the government and its membership is not much larger than KESK and Kamu Sen combined. KESK also criticises Memur Sen for exaggerating the percentage increase that was negotiated with pay set to rise for some workers by 4.54%