Germany
Strike action is possible at the Helios/Damp group of hospitals in seven cities across Germany. Ver.di is trying to negotiate a 7.5% pay increase for the 5600 workers employed by the company which is part of the Fresenius group. In contrast the management is trying to undermine existing collective agreements, wants to freeze pay for some workers and introduce a new pay structure for other workers that would many without a pay increase.
Read more at > ver.di (DE)
The three trade unions in the hospital sector - FNV Abvakabo, CNV Publieke Zaak and NU'91 -are finding negotiations hard going. After the fourth round of bargaining the employers are still pushing for a number of changes to employment conditions affecting pay, shifts and working time that could mean a significant deterioration for workers. The unions are calling for more job security, better training and a pay increase of 3% but the employers are looking for more employee flexibility. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/over-ons/nieuws/nieuwsoverzicht/2014/04/614288/]
The CGIL, CSIL and UIL federations representing doctors, vets and hospital managers organised a national demonstration on 17 January to highlight the 10-year freeze on collective bargaining in the only public sector agreement that has not been renewed. The unions also complain of excessive working time and massive shortages of staff and now a change in the budget law that effectively blocks renegotiation of the collective agreement. The unions are planning a 24-hour strike on 25 January and further action in February.
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
