Ukraine
A large trade union demonstration gathered outside the parliament on 17 December in protest at the latest state budget, drafted under the auspices of the Internationl Monetary Fund. The unions have put forward their own alternative social and employment proposals to counter a budget that will mean more job cuts and as well wage freezes and no change to the living wage. The unions argue that this an economic disaster as well as a social one.
Read more at > FPU (UKR)
Alongside action by the CGIL and UIL confederations, the CISL trade union confederation is planning a national protest in Rome on 25 November over the government’s budget for 2024 and its refusal to engage with the trade unions. Together with demands for increased funding for public services, CISL wants to see action on staffing and measures to reduce precarious work. It also wants the government to commit to negotiating new collective agreements in the public sector. The mobilisations by UIL and CGIL continue with regional stoppages planned for 24 and 27 November and 1 December.
The three confederations are coordinating a series of protests and strikes against the new government's proposed austerity budget. The union argue that the budget is socially unjust, with workers' paying the price and no attempt to get the wealthy and high-paid to make a large contribution. Unions are concerned about the threat to the wage indexation system, the scope to negotiate pay increases and plans to increase the retirement age to 67. A national demonstration on 6 November will be followed by regional strikes on 25 November and 1 December and a general strike on 15 December. [Read more
Public sector unions are planning a demonstration outside parliament on 6 December in protest at the government's latest budget proposals. The unions have been in the process of negotiating a salary increase after a six-year pay freeze. However, publication of the budget has revealed that the government has changed its spending plans and the proposals could been a further five-year freeze. Trade unions organising health, education, university and defence workers will join the demonstration and call on MPs to vote to revise the budget with inclusion of funds for a pay increase for public sector
