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Supporting the reform process in local and regional government, joint conclusions, June 2008
European sectoral social dialogue committee for local and regional government Supporting the reform process in local and regional government: Joint evaluation of the experience in different forms of service provision
Energy Council to be firm in securing a stable energy sector and addressing energy poverty
Energy Council to be firm in securing a stable energy sector and addressing energy poverty (Press Communication, 8 October 2008, Brussels) The Energy Council will determine its common position on
New report highlights 'poor choices' available to Britain's low income consumers
UK consumer champion energywatch has published research led by the University of Greenwich, which reveals how low income households are failed, not only in the energy market but across seven essential services.
ETUC wants action on child and dependent care
The ETUC has welcomed European Commission proposals to increase minimum maternity leave entitlement from 14 to 18 weeks. However, it is disappointed that the new work-life balance package does not include concrete measures to extend childcare provision and says nothing about caring for other dependents including the elderly. The ETUC also argues that a comprehensive approach to work-life balance would include working time flexibility while improved care provision should also tackle the issue of the pay and working conditions of care workers. [Read more at > ETUC (EN)->http://www.etuc.org/a
Social dialogue forum for local government
Local government trade unions and employers met on 1 October in a new social dialogue forum that unions believe will be important in ensuring that key public sector agreements are properly implemented at local level but taking account of local circumstances. Unions are particularly concerned about maintaining employment and quality of services and agreed with the employers to submit an amendment to the basic law on public employment to maintain staffing levels in local government. [Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/index.php/mod.noticias/mem.detalle/idnoticia.5654/cat.1030]
Union attacks low pay in civil service
The PCS civil service reveals that six government departments have had to increase minimum rates in their collective agreements in order to comply with the national minimum wage. The UK statutory minimum wage increased to £5.73 (€7.37) an hour for all workers aged 22 and over as from 1 October. Among the departments need to adjust their lowest rates is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency where PCS members have been on strike for higher pay. Industrial action has been widespread across the civil service in recent months as the government’s policy of pay restraint has led to pay increases below
Survey reveals impact of outsourcing
A major survey of works council representatives by the Hans Böckler research organisation found 40% of reps reporting that pay and conditions in outsourced companies were worse than in the original employer. However, works council reps also reported that working conditions also deteriorated in the original employer with an increasing pressure of work. Read more at > Hans Böckler (DE)
Union calls for more funding for hospital sector
Services union ver.di has criticised the German government’s increased funding for the hospital sector as an inadequate reaction to the crisis that doesn’t provide a long-term solution. The union says that the creation of 21,000 jobs is an indication that the government admits to the seriousness of the situation but is little compensation for the 100,000 jobs that have been cut from the sector in recent years, the effect of which has been to place enormous pressure on the remaining health workers. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://presse.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/showNews?id=f942bc0a-8651