2011 October epsucob@NEWS 17
Unions step up pensions campaigning
Unions are working hard to build support for co-ordinated industrial action on 30 November in response to the government’s failure to negotiate properly over changes to pensions and to carry on with their plans to cut pension schemes affecting millions of public sector workers. The main civil service union PCS and the largest teaching union, NUT, already have approval for another one-day strike, following their action in June. Other unions, including UNISON, GMB, Unite and the FDA senior civil servants’ union, are now pushing for a “yes” vote in what is thought to be the biggest ever
Unions unite in general strike plan
The two main trade union confederations have once again been united in their opposition to government austerity plans and are planning a general strike. The date has not yet been confirmed but is likely to be linked to a parliamentary vote on the state budget for 2012. If the budget goes through then public sector workers earning over €1000 a month could see massive cuts in bonuses, some worth the equivalent of two months’ pay. [Read more at > Euronews (EN)->http://www.Euronews.net/2011/10/18/general-strike-plans-for-portugal-as-unions-object-to-more-austerity/] [And at > Euronews (EN)-> http
General strike as Parliament votes on latest austerity measures
The ADEDY civil service confederation and GSEE private sector confederation organized a 48-hour general strike on 19-20 October in protest at the latest package of austerity measures proposed by the Euroopean Commission and International Monetary Fund and voted through by the Greek parliament. Read more at > Reuters (EN) And at > ADEDY (GR)
More than 270,000 joint demonstrations over pay
Public sector unions within the CGT confederation joined a major day of action on 11 October calling for an increase in salaries and policies to tackle precarious employment. The CGT estimated that some 200 demonstrations took place across the country, calling for pay rises to protect purchasing power and as a step towards a fairer distribution of income in the face of the trend to higher pay for top executives. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Unions and employers agree cross-sectoral deal
Despite earlier difficulties in the negotiations the three trade union confederations have agreed a framework deal with the private and municipal employer associations. If approved by member organisations the 25-month agreement will include two pay rises of 2.4% and 1.9% and a lump sum payment of €150. Read more at > Trade Union News (EN)
Strikers take direct action
After five weeks on strike employees of the Charité Facilities Management (CFM) company have taken their campaign to the Berlin high street with a leafletting and sit-down protest in the Dussman book and music store. The store is owned by the Dussman group, a multinational service company that part owns CFM. The strikers' basic demand is simply to have a collective agreement and higher pay for non-medical staff. CFM provides a range of services to the Charité hospitals in Berlin. Further details in the last issue of the [newsletter->http://www.epsu.org/cob/441]. Ver.di had also organised a
Report reveals reality of temporary employment in local government
A report by the Kommunal municipal union provides evidence about the nature of temporary employment in local government, with temporary workers being paid on average 12% less than those on permanent contracts. It also reveals that temporary workers are not predominantly young, with an average age of 35. Around 75% of temporary workers are women and seven in 10 would prefer to be in permanent employment. Read more at > Kommunal (SE)
Key agreement provides 5.3% increase for lowest paid
Unions in the metal, mining, gas and heating sectors have negotiated a new collective agreement that provides an average pay increase of 4.2%. However, with a minimum guaranteed increase of €80 a month, this means that those on the lowest pay rates will get an increase of 5.3%. The agreement runs for 12 months from 1 November 2011. Read more at > GPA-DJP (DE)
Unions threaten strike if pay cut is imposed
The EIRO industrial relations observatory reports that public sector unions have reacted angrily to a proposed pay cut of 4%. The government had drawn up budget plans which would involve cuts to the wage bill but then a parliamentary committee submitted an amendment calling for the wage cut. The government’s plans include a ban on recruitment in the public sector until the end of 2012; not replacing recently retired workers; a cut in the 2011 public sector pay budget of 1% of the 2010 figure. However, they have also said that there shouldn’t be any outsourcing of public sector services apart
Victory for hospital workers after two-day strike
Workers responsible for patient transport at Geneva University Hospital have won virtually all their demands after a two-day strike. They will be put on a higher pay grade and get four additional days off. There will also be an increase in staffing which will ensure a better service to patients. Read more at > VPOD (DE)
Massive survey of healthworkers reveals increased stress and pressure of work
The CFDT Santé health federation has carried out a major survey with responses from 55,000 workers in 492 public health establishments. The survey reveals a range of data on working conditions and has been broken down into different groups of workers and professions. The survey reveals the extent to which workers are under increased pressure, with growing workloads and many stuck on temporary contracts. Read more at > CFDT Santé (FR)
One day strike called as negotiations stall
After the last day of negotiations on 20 October and with no new offer from the employers, the FNV Abvakabo public service union has called a one-day strike among welfare workers. The union had been looking for an increase to protect purchasing power, initiatives to make the sector more attractive to new workers and an agreement on employment levels. The employers want a below-inflation increase and no agreement on employment. In fact, the union believes that the employers want to see more employees replaced by volunteers or the self-employed. The CNV Pubieke Zaak union may also join the
Higher pay for weekend work will be a priority for 2012
The Fagforbundet municipal union and the LO Confederation's local authority section are agreed that one of the priorities in the 2012 negotiations will be higher pay for weekend work. This is an important demand for many workers and the union believes it will make a different to those on lower pay. The union will also raise the question of when the weekend begins and whether Friday evening and night work should also be covered. Read more at > Fagforbundet (NO)
National minimum wage introduced
Governments, employers and trade unions have agreed on the introduction of a national minimum wage. The minimum rate will initially be set at €130 a month and will come into force next year. An estimated 65,000 workers will benefit from an increase in pay as a result. Eurostat provides a briefing on the extent and level of minimum wages across Europe. [Read more at > SETimes news website (EN)->http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/roundup/2011/10/05/roundup-bs-03] [And at > Eurostat (EN)-> http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Minimum_wage
Catering workers threatened with pay cut
The JHL public services union is concerned that government plans to transfer the Ministry of Defence catering service to a new company will lead to large pay cuts for many of the workers. The transfer would mean workers being covered by a different collective agreement and this could involve pay cuts of around €200 a month and possibly as much as €400 for some workers. JHL highlights the impact this will have on the gender pay gap as most of the catering workers are women. Read more at > JHL (EN)
Employee reps debate precarious employment in church organisations
Services union ver.di has been surprised by the level of interest in a meeting on precarious employment in the church sector in Bavaria taking place on 24 October. Over 100 employee represenatives have signed up for the meeting indicating the extent of the problem among church bodies that provide many health and social services. The union has evidence of church employees facing temporary contracts of up to two years, part-time work despite the demand for full-time hours, widespread outsourcing and a range of other precarious employment conditions. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->https://www.verdi
Driving test examiners and road safety workers take strike action
The FO civil service federation is supporting strike action by driving test examiners and other workers dealing with driving licences and road safety. The Ministry undertook to revalue salaries in the section in 2007 but four years later with increasing pressures of work and lengthy negotiations, the civil servants are still waiting for the salary review to be implemented. Read more at > FO Fonctionnaires (FR)
Confederation organizes national demonstration over pay and poverty
The FPSU trade union confederation, backed by public sector unions, organized a national demonstration on 17 October to highlight poverty pay and the failure of the government to participate in proper social dialogue with the trade unions. The unions had a broad range of demands on pensions and low pay as well as calling for the end to wage discrimination in the public sector and introduction of a unified pay scale. Read more at > FPSU (UKr)
Council workers take further strike action against outsourcing
Members of UNISON working at Barnet Council in North East London organized a second day of strike action in their campaign against outsourcing. The Council has plans for a radical externalsation that could see 70% of council employees transferred to the private sector over the next 15 months. Read more at > UNISON And at > Barnet UNISON
Unions work together in campaign against outsourcing
The SIPTU and IMPACT public service trade unions organized a demonstration on 20 October in protest at plans by Fingal County Council, to the north of Dublin, to outsource waste collection services. The unions highlighted not only the threat to workers pay and conditions but the prospect of a poorer service and higher charges to citizens. Read more at > SIPTU (EN)