epsucob@NEWS 12 November 2005
Public sector workers continue pay and pensions campaign
Workers across the public sector have been continuing their campaign for improvements in the pay and pensions increases offered by the Greek government. All sectors have been involved in the action. Read more at > the ERT news website And more at > ERT
ETUC urges European Central Bank to boost economy
The ETUC has argued that the European Central Bank should take action to boost the European economy rather than be too concerned about the potential impact of increasing oil prices on inflation. The ETUC notes the modest fall in pay settlements across Europe over the last four years and argues for measures to boost domestic demand. Read more at > ETUC
Latest on negotiations
Pay negotiations covering the Austrian public sector are set to continue with a debate on the use of statistics with key figures being current economic growth but forecasts of inflation for the coming year. The annual negotiations normal set an overall percentage pay increase that takes effect on 1 January and covers the calendar year. Inflation is currently on an upward trend and the metalworkers, in a key agreement, recently settled for a 3.1% increase for 2006. [Read more at > GDG->http://www.gdg.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GDG/Page/GDG_Index&n=GDG_0.0.0.2.detail&cid=1131029075727]
No change from minister
French unions continue to be frustrated by the attitude of the public services minister Christian Jacob. The latest meeting with the minister on 9 November produced nothing concrete but just the framework for further discussions in December. They accuse the minister of simply using delaying tactics rather than agreeing to proper negotiations over public sector pay. Read more at > CGT
New pay system in public sector
The EIRO industrial relations observatory reports that a July 2005 law introduces collective agreements into the Slovenian public sector and will require the government to negotiate an annual agreement on pay. However, experts and unions are concerned about the compulsory element included in the legislation and say that it could contravene the European Social Charter and International Labour Organisation Convention 158. Read more at > EIROl
Low pay problem in museums
The PCS civil service union has warned of problems in recruitment if the government fails to increase the lowest rates of pay in museum service with some workers on just 20p (28 euro cents) per hour more than the minimum wage of £5.05 (7 euros 10 cents) per hour. Read more at > PCS
Wage developments
According to the EIRO industrial relations observatory the latest figures for wage growth in Slovakia show real wages increasing at their fastest rate for five years. In the first of 2005 wages were rising at 8.2% and real wages at 5.6%. However, figures broken down by industry suggest that real wages fell in the electricity, gas and water sector by 7.3%. Read more at > EIRO
Civil service pay offer rejected
NIPSA, the union for civil servants in Northern Ireland, has rejected the government's latest pay offer saying it would mean less than 50p (70 euro cents) extra a week for low paid workers on less than £13,000 (18,200 euros) a year. It also said that the civil service in Northern Ireland had to adjust pay rates recently to ensure all workers were paid more than the minimum wage. Read more at > NIPSA
Campaign against government cuts continues
Unions continue to protest against budget cuts that will have an impact on pay and pensions in the public services. Demonstrations took place in Lisbon and Oporto on Thursday 10 November on the eve of a key vote on the budget proposals. Read more at > eubusiness
Home care sector agreement
A new collective agreement has been concluded for the 130,000 workers in the home care sector. It is backdated to 1 January 2005 and runs until 1 October 2006. It includes a 0.8% increase from 1 December 2005 and a further 1% increase from 1 June 2006. Read more at > ABVAKABO
ver.di attacks 41-hour week for federal civil servants
Frank Bsirske, chair of the ver.di services union, has attacked government plans to increase weekly hours for 300,000 federal civil servants to 41 a week and to cut special payments. This follows only shortly after the new agreement for federal employees came into effect with a 39-hour week and retention of some special payments. From verdi's viewpoint the negotiations were on the basis that the conditions would also apply to civil servants who don't have the right to collective bargaining. [Read more at > verdi->http://presse.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/showNews?id=3936ee50-5129-11da-792f
Parliament cleaners threaten second strike
The TGWU general workers' union is continuing its campaign for pay increases for the cleaners who work in the Houses of Parliament. The union is warning of a another strike if Parliamentary officials don't get involved in the dispute between the union and a contract cleaning company. The workers are paid only £5.20 (7 euros 20 cents) an hour and have no sick pay, pension and only minimum holiday entitlement. Read more at > TGWU