Electricity, Collective Bargaining, Strike
Government agrees to double minimum wage
(October 2016) At a meeting with trade unions on 18 October, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman said that the issue of the wage system reform is one of the most important priorities of the Governmen, along with further increases to social standards. He said: ‘It is very important for us that every hryvnia that could be invested in improving the social standards should be used for that. It is our priority." The unions have welcomed a doublling of the minimum wage to UAH 3200 (EUR 115) from 1 January 2017.
Unions set out main bargaining demands
(October 2016) Unions in the public sector have set out their bargaining demands and reacted to the government's budget proposals, which they say don't go far enough to rrestoring cuts to pay and conditions since 2011. Higher salary increases, ensuring all workers across the public services are ensured a return to the 35-hour week and unfreezing career progression are among the main demands. Unions in the Frente Comum will be mobilising for a national demonstration on 18 November to support their claim.
Next steps to restore pay after austerity
(October 2016) The latest budget confirms government commitments to restoring some of the pay cuts introduced in 2009 and 2010 and to reduce the pensions levy also imposed as part of the austerity measures. Public sector workers are set to get a EUR 1000 pay rise in 2017 and a EUR 1000 reduction in the pensions levy. Public sector unions have welcomed the establishment of the Public Services Pay Commission as a contribution to the process of unwinding the austerity agreements and legislation covering public sector pay and conditions.
Government fails to deliver on public employment and pay
(October 2016) Despite promises of additional funding to cover public sector employment, the latest figures announced by the government are a major disappointment to all the public sector federations. FP-CGIL, CISL-FP, UIL-PA and UIL-FPL issued a joint statement that attacked the government for its short-sighted policies and failure to provide any opening for serious negotiations on pay, skills, productivity and innovation. The unions will be stepping up their mobilisation beginning with a national protest in Rome on 12 November.
Quality employment conference 10-11 January 2017
(October 2017) EPSU is organising a collective bargaining and social dialogue conference in January 2017 with the theme of quality employment and quality public services. Several speakers have already been confirmed and more will follow over the coming days. Sessions will cover how to define quality employment, trends in public services, working time and work organisation, trends in labour code reform in Eastern Europe and job security and precarious work.
Planning ahead for bargaining in 2017
(October 2016) The ver.di services union is looking ahead to next year's negotiations for a new collective agreement covering employees in regional government. Along with a general pay increase, the union will be looking for some structural changes including revisions to the pay scale and measures to limit the use of temporary contracts. Ver.di will be organising regional and local consultations with members in preparing its negotiating priorities.
Important role for minimum wages in Central and Eastern Europe
(October 2016)This new report from the ETUI research organisation argues that, for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), minimum wages are an effective tool for reducing inequality by raising the lowest incomes. The working paper also says that while minimum wages can have a limited role in increasing productivity and wage levels, they really need to be accompanied by a stronger role for collective bargaining in CEE countries.
Collective bargaining news from around Europe
(October 2016) The latest issue of the ETUI's collective bargaining newsletter includes several articles about developments in the public services, with a potential pay dispute in Croatia, privatisation plans in Greece, pay and holidays in Malta, doctors' strike in Norway, healthworkers' pay in Poland and meeting on migration between PSI and Swedish minister.
EPSU’s Standing Committee on Utilities strongly supports Norwegian energy sector’s industrial action
(5 October 2016) EPSU’s Standing Committee on Utilities meeting today in Brussels voted unanimously to strongly support the industrial actions currently underway in the Norwegian Energy sector.The EL and IT
Union organises strike against network privatisation
(September 2016) The FNME-CGT energy trade union is planning a day of action on 21 September by workers at the RTE electricity network. The union is very concerned about the impact of a sell-off on prices and services to users as well as the implications for the pay and conditions of workers in the sector.
Union sets out bargaining priorities
(September 2016) The FNV trade union has set out is main bargaining aims for 2017. It has set a general target of a 2.5% pay increase but indicated that some sectors may be able to achieve higher increases. The FNV wants to see action to tackle excessive workloads and increasing flexibility, particularly in relation to on-call/zero hours contracts. In addition, it calls for the creation of 8000 jobs for young people linked to arrangements that reduce working time for older workers following the model of agreements negotiated in the municipal sector.
Union signs deal with private care company
(September 2016) Public services trade union FOA has signed an agreement with the PUK private care company. The company recently joined the KA employers' organisation and the FOA is pleased that the agreement now ensure that PUK employees are covered by the pay and conditions negotiated for the sector, helping to prevent competition on wages. Meanwhile, the union is continuing its campaign against the DK Pleje company which has so far refused to negotiate and is undercutting other care providers.
Union in warning strike and protest over collective agreement
(September 2016) Services union ver.di organised warning strikes and a national protest in Berlin against Germany's largest rehabilitation company, Reha. The company gave notice in August that it was ending the current collective agreement and wanted to move to enterprise-level agreements. The union has attacked the company for being a major recipient of public money while denying rights to its workforce. Ver.di is calling for a new agreement and an 8% pay increase covering the 2700 workers institutions in the Eastern region of the company.