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Public sector strike to continue
Frank Bsirske, general secretary of the ver.di services union has made clear his union's determination to continue the strike in the public sector to secure agreements with the regional employers and stop the push for longer working hours. The strike of employees at university hospitals is now in its eleventh week and Bsirske told the German radio station that funding the dispute was not a problem and that it could still be going on during the World Cup tournament although he hoped that the regional employers would come to the negotiating table before then. [Read more at > German radio website
Jobs, pay and working conditions behind strike action
Members of the PCS public services union have taken strike action in a number of areas in recent weeks. A one-day strike in Learning and Skills Councils around the country on 28 April was in protest at plans to cut 1,200 jobs. Security guards in Newcastle took action on 25 April over an inadequate pay increase that leaves them on only £5.23 (€7.55) an hour. And on 13 April tax workers in Lothian in Scotland were on strike over new working methods that they argue have been introduced without negotiation and are deskilling their jobs. [Read more at > PCS Learning and Skills->http://www.pcs.org
New sub-contracting regulations
Following pressure from trade unions the government is committed to introducing legislation that will require employers to check certain details of any new sub-contractors or employment agencies they use. This is to confirm that they are registered in Finland for tax purposes and that they comply with other areas of legislation such as employment law. The principal company will be able to demand information about collective agreements and the pay and conditions of the employees of the sub-contractor. Read more at > SAK
Minimum wage conference
Services union ver.di and the NGG food and catering workers' union held a joint conference on 26 and 27 April as part of their developing campaign in support of a legal minimum wage. The conference was opened with a short film revealing what is like trying to survive on low pay. Verdi general secretary Frank Bsirske and his NGG counterpart Franz-Josef Möllner provided a comprehensive introduction to the key issues explaining very clearly why Germany needs a legal minimum wage. There were discussions about the impact of minimum wages elsewhere including the UK and France (presented by EPSU
Private health workers plan strike action
Unions representing workers in the private health sector have agreed to a day's strike action and national demonstration on 11 May. The unions are trying to get the 2004-2005 collective agreement implemented and decided on the action following three regional demonstrations in Milan on 20 March, Bari on 24 March and Rome on 5 April. Read more at > FP-CGIL
Unions want action on precarious employment
Public service unions have written jointly to the public services minister, Christian Jacob, to demand government action to reduce precarious employment in the public services. The unions want negotiations to start immediately to resolve the situation in the public sector where, according to a recent study the use of short-term contracts is more widespread than in the private sector. Read more at > CGT
Minimum wages across Europe
A new book examines how minimum wages work across Europe. It looks at the statutory systems that apply in 18 of the 25 European Union states, explaining how they have developed and the process of increasing minimum wages rates each year. The book also investigates the systems of minimum wages in collective agreements that are the basis of regulation in the Scandinavian countries as well as Austria. The book includes an overview of minimum wage systems across Europe and a proposal from researchers in Germany, France and Switzerland for co-ordinating minimum wages, both statutory and negotiated
2.8% increase at the Thüga energy company
The ver.di services union has secured a 2.8% pay increase for workers at the Thüga energy company. The agreement runs for 15 months from 1 February 2006 and includes a 2.5% increase on rates for trainees. Inflation in Germany was running at 2.1% in the year to February. Read more at > ver.di