Japan, Portugal, Malta

The FNSFP public services federation has called two one-day strikes on 20 and 26 October. The first is part of the unions' continuing campaign of opposition to the government's proposed increase in pension age and latest pay offer which will mean another real cut in pay for public administration workers. The second strike is specifically aimed at the Ministry of Justice where again proposals on pensions and restructuring have angered unions along with the Ministry's failure to abide by collective bargaining agreements. [Read more at > FNSFP->http://www.fnsfp.pt/?pageact=art&id=584&idCanal=0]

For three consecutive days a strike of refuse collectors caused chaos in the city of Oporto. The strike was caused by the decision of the Oporto Mayor to suspend the "night allowance" for more than 600 workers. This means a reduction of €115 in a €500 average salary and will be deducted this month. The first day of the strike had 100% support as it was organised by SINTAP (UGT) and STAL (CGTP) Unions. The workers don't accept the suspension of this allowance, which has been paid since the seventies. SINTAP has applied to the Oporto Administrative Court of Justice to prevent the allowance being

Around 70%-75% of workers in local administration supported the two-day strike last month in protest at government policies on the public sector. In particular the STAL union is calling for a 5.5% pay increase to compensate for a loss of purchasing power in recent years and a minimum 50 euro per month increase for all workers. [Read more at > STAL->http://www.stal.pt/artigo.asp?id=762] The SINTAP union has also attacked the government for offering a 1.5% pay increase for 2006 when inflation is at 2.5%. The union also estimates that public sector workers have seen their pay fall in real terms