Türkiye, Croatia

Over the next two weeks three Turkish union federations will be negotiating with various ministerial representatives in the Public Employers Board over the pay and conditions of 1.5 million government workers. Improving minimum rates and higher pay increases for the lowest paid workers are among the key demands of the three federations. All three will be organising various events and demonstrations in support of their claims. If a deal can't be reached within two weeks then a conciliation board made up of academics is brought in to find a way to conclude the negotiations. Federations are

A dispute over pay increases for civil servants in 2007 has reached the Cabinet after government negotiators failed to agree an increase. This followed the intervention of the National Reconciliation Board after direct negotiations between the government and trade unions ended without agreement. The National Reconciliation Board recommended two increases of 5% for civil servants in 2007 with lower paid civil servants getting two increases of 6%. The latest offer from the government was only two general increases of 3% with two of 4% for the lowest paid. [Read more at > Turkish Daily News

The SSSH trade union confederation has expressed its concerns about the new salary law covering civil servants. The law will abolish bonuses based solely on years of service and introduce new performance-related additions. The SSSH is worried that the performance-related elements of pay will be too subjective and allow heads of departments too much discretion over pay. The confederation is particularly concerned about the impact of women on maternity and/or sick leave who might miss out on being evaluated if they fail to meet the minimum requirement of six months’ work in a particular year.

The Enerji Yapi-Yol Sen public sector union in Turkey has finally secured a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights over a Turkish government circular banning public servants from taking strike action. The Court press release says that the Court acknowledged that the right to strike was not absolute and could be subject to certain conditions and restrictions. However, while certain categories of civil servants could be prohibited from taking strike action, the ban did not extend to all public servants or to employees of State-run commercial or industrial concerns. In this particular

The government unilaterally cut salaries for public servants by amending the law that regulates basic pay in the sector, even though pay normally is subject to collective bargaining. The main public service unions have rejected the pay cut and also criticise the government for its unilateral action which, the unions argues, contravenes International Labour Organisation Convention 98 that guarantees the right to collective bargaining. The strikes were planned for 13 and 14 in the week leading up to local government elections across the country. Education workers were due to begin the strike on

Public sector unions called off strikes planned for 13 and 14 May and a national demonstration planned for 16 May. The unions secured an agreement on pay for 60,000 civil servants that will now be voted on by union members. If members reject the agreement then the unions will return to the negotiating table with the government. Civil servants’ pay will be increased in line with inflation from 1 January 2010 and they will also get a 6% increase once the economy has registered two consecutive quarters of growth. [Read more at > SSSH (HR)->http://www.sssh.hr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view

The Croatian government has increased VAT from 20% to 23% and introduced an additional 3% income tax on wages and pensions as part of its response to the current crisis. The SSSH trade union confederation attacked the proposals arguing that it would lead to a cut in consumption and so undermine economic growth. The 3% tax increase was supposed to be implemented on monthly salaries above 3000 kuna (€400) but there was further union anger when the finance minister suggested that the tax increase should be applied to all salaries. [Read more at > SSSH (EN)->http://www.sssh.hr/en/index.php?option

EPSU has written to the Croatian government expressing its concern about new legislation on determining pay in local government. EPSU’s local government affiliate, the Trade Union of State and Local Government Employees of Croatia, argues that the new law will undermine its right to negotiate pay for its members and that the government has failed to consult properly over the legislation.

EPSU has written to the President, Prime Minister and Minister for Public Administration in Croatia to protest at proposed changes to pay determination in local government. EPSU’s letter condemns the government for failing to consult with unions over the proposed changes and for planning to implement a form of pay determination that undermines the unions’ right to collective bargaining. EPSU’s letter was reported on the website of Vercernji, one of the main daily newspapers. [Read more at > Vercernji (HR)->http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/sindikalci-eu-mesica-premijerke-traze-objasnjenje-clanak

The workers of the municipal company have been dismissed, all 276. In protest and to draw attention to the unacceptable behavior of the mayor they are walking all the way from Izmir to Ankara, a march of close to 30 days. They are supported by GENEL-Is. PSI and EPSU have intervened and sent messages of support. [Read more at > GENEL-IS (TK)->http://www.genel-is.org.tr/diger_incele.php?id=NDYx] [Or at > Google translation (EN)->http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=tr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.genel-is.org.tr%2Fdiger_incele.php%3Fid%3DNDYx] [And at > EPSU (EN)->http://www.epsu.org/a