2016 February epsucob@NEWS 03
Unions in joint call for end to pay freeze
Seven public service trade union organisations have issued a joint communication calling for an end to the pay freeze and for a significant pay increase across the three parts of the public sector. The Cgt, Cfdt, Cgc, Fa-Fp, Fsu, Solidaires et Unsa trade unions underline how public sector workers have been affected by a raft of reforms and face pressure on their working conditions, with trends towards precarious employment. Pay negotiations are set to begin on 17 March and unions will plan action if the government doesn't come up with an appropriate offer. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www
ETUC sends clear message to Commission on pay and bargaining
As the European Commission publishes its country reports in the latest phase of the European Semester, the ETUC has coordinated a clear message from its affiliates on how policy needs to change. Using information provided from 21 countries the ETUC makes the case for stable and reliable working contracts; increasing minimum wages towards 60% of average (median) wages and revitalising collective bargaining. [Read more at > ETUC (EN)->https://www.etuc.org/press/country-reports-delivering-junckers-fairer-emu#.VtRCFr-Q-k8] [And at > CES (FR)->https://www.etuc.org/fr/presse/les-rapports-par-pays-r
Junior doctors plan further action
Junior doctors, represented by the BMA trade union, are planning three more periods of 48-hour strike action on 9-11 March and then on 6-8 and 26-28 April. The strikes are in response by the decision of the government to impose new contracts following a failure to negotiate changes to existing contracts. The new arrangements will see reduction in pay for unsocial hours and a weakening of measures to prevent long working hours. Other unions are concerned that the attack on unsocial hours payments will be tried in other parts of the health service. [Read more at > BMA->http://www.bma.org.uk
Government wants move to local bargaining
Trade union confederations and employer organisations are set to negotiate about moves to local bargaining in response to pressure from the government. The government wants to see a greater role for local bargaining with an implication that this might allow scope for non-union deals or terms and conditions not guaranteed by sector agreements. The government warns that it may introduce legislation if employers and trade unions can't come up with a suitable deal. [Read more at > Trade Union News (EN)->http://heikkijokinen.info/en/trade-union-news-from-finland/975-rules-on-local-bargaining-under
Childcare workers reject employer offer
The FNV and other unions will be going back to the employers to get an improved offer for childcare workers. The current agreement expired on 1 January and unions are looking for a decent offer to compensate for low levels of pay increases and to recognise the value of this group of workers. The employers' "final" offer was for a wage increase of 1% on 1 July and 1.4% on April 1, 2017 in an agreement running to July 2017 but this was rejected following consultation of union members. [Read more at > FNV (NL)->https://www.fnv.nl/over-fnv/nieuws/nieuwsarchief/2016/februari/1172260-cao
Minimum wage increases on rise
The Boeckler trade union-linked research organisation has published its annual review of trends in minimum wages across Europe. The survey finds increases averaging 4.6% over the past year, ahead of the 3.7% average recorded in 2014. The report includes information on a number of countries outside the European Union - Turkey, FYRO Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Moldova, Russian and Ukraine. The last three countries record the lowest level of minimum wages when converted into euros at only 54, 53 and 34 euro cents per hour, respectively. [Read more at > Boeckler (DE)->http://www.boeckler.de/cps
Energy union warns of possible industrial action
The SDE energy union is warning of possible industrial action if the government doesn't engage in dialogue over the future of the electricity industry. The union is concerned that the government is narrowly focused on increasing the rate of return in the sector with a view to eventual privatisation. Meanwhile the sector is starved of investment and the government ignores the interests of both the workers in the sector and the needs of consumers. [Read more at > ZSSS (SI)->http://www.sindikat-zsss.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1621:izjava-za-javnost-sde-stavka-ne-more-biti
Red Cross restructuring threatens 2000 jobs
The FP-CGIL, CISL-FP, UIL-PA FP and Fialp-Cisal trade unions plan to mobilise their members in the Red Cross to put pressure on the government for proper negotiations over jobs and mobility. Restructuring of the organisation could lead to a reduction from 2200 to 500 jobs with a second phase leaving only 160 directly employed. This raises serious questions about what happens to the remaining workers and the extent to which they can be provided with jobs within the public administration. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)
Hospital workers call for end to low pay
Workers at the Vaud university hospital in Lausanne have called for a CHFr 4000 minimum monthly salary. The SSP public services union argues that the bottom three levels of the pay scale should be abolished as it is impossible to live on a salary of less than CHFr 4000 (EUR 3670). The workers affected are mainly cleaning, catering and transport staff, some of whom have been with the hospital for many years. The workers will make their case again at the hospital general meeting in March and then decide what further action to take. [Read more at > SPP (FR)->http://www.ssp-vpod.ch/actualites
Union targets low pay and equal pay in bargaining round
Unions are setting out the priorities for the forthcoming bargaining round. For public services union Fagforbundet, equal pay continues to be an urgent demand and the union is looking for pay deals that deliver for sectors dominated by women workers. It also wants action to tackle low pay with a particular concern that low-paid workers may be missing out from local negotiations that benefit other workers more. The union is also looking for pensions improvements and in particular ensuring that pension entitlement is built up from day one of employment. Fagforbundet is concerned that the
Strong support for action over healthcare assistant jobs
Members of the SIPTU services union at St.Patrick's hospital in Dublin have voted overwhelmingly for strike action. The dispute is over the management's failure to deploy workers as healthcare assistants after training them for additional duties in 2012. The hospital has even refused to comply with a ruling by the Labour Relations Commission, leading the union to opt for industrial action. Read more at > SIPTU
College staff strike over pay freeze
Thousands of members of public service union Unison working for further education colleges joined a national strike over pay on 24 February. The workers, including librarians, technicians, cleaners and caretakers, joined college lecturers to protest against employers' aim to freeze pay. With several years of below-inflation pay increases, a pay freeze this year would mean some workers seeing a 17% fall in their purchasing power. Read more at > Unison