Government fails to respond on pay following demonstration

The eight public sector trade union federations have joined together to condemn the government’s failure to respond to any of their demands. The federations met with public service minister Eric Woerth on 3 March and called for a moratorium on job cuts, negotiations on an increase in pay and a reform of the public sector pay system. Woerth simply restated government policy, failing to take account of the impact on citizens and service quality. The eight federations reaffirmed their call to workers to support the national day of action on 19 March. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www

Local government unions FNV Abvakabo and CNV Publieke Zaak issued the employers with an ultimatum last month, giving them until 17 March to respond. The date has passed with no response and the unions will now consider what action to take to try to get negotiations back on track after they broke down last year and failed again earlier this year. Unions are keen to negotiate over purchasing power and job security. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/over-ons/nieuws/nieuwsoverzicht/2014/02/ultimatum-aan-vereniging-nederlandse-gemeenten/] [And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)-

Prime minister Dominique de Villepin chose to announce further plans for privatisation and the creation of a “modern” state rather than respond to union demands for a proper social dialogue. Privatisation of EDF, the motorways and Paris airport are all on the agenda but not negotiations with the unions. Following the national demonstration on 4 October the CGT federation is now calling for two days of action on 9 and 10 November. This will again involve both private and public sectors with demands for pay increases and pay negotiations involving public service unions. [Read more at > FO->http