EPSU affiliate Pardia reports that the STTK white-collar workers’ confederation has endorsed an agreement with employers on a number of issues to deal with the ageing workforce. There will be an increase in pensions contributions in 2015-2016 in response to higher pension costs but there will also be improvements to unemployment benefits. Workers aged 63 and over will now have the right to rehabilitation and the unions have stressed the need for the government to focus on a strategy for jobs and investment rather than making cuts.
Read more at > Pardia (EN)
Negotiations produce agreement on pensions and unemployment benefit
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Notice of industrial action in unemployment benefit service
The CSC public services union has given formal notice of its intention to take industrial action over employment and working conditions at the CAPAC/HVW unemployment benefit service. The union is unhappy about the dismissal of contract workers and compulsory relocation of those with statutory rights. It is also critical of the failure of changed opening hours for office and of the pressure and even threats faced by workers. The union wants to see a proper process of social dialogue to try to resolve these issues. [Read more at > CSC (FR)->http://csc-services-publics.csc-en-ligne.be/Nouvelles
Pay negotiations produce 6% offer over 21 months
The IMPACT public services union is recommending that members accept a pay deal that will give them a 6% increase over the next 21 months although no increase for the first 11 months. Lower paid workers – those on less than €11 an hour – will get an additional 0.5%. The union believes that this is the best deal available in difficult circumstances. Read more at > IMPACT (EN)
Protests produce results in non-profit sector
The SETCA services union reports that the regional government of Wallonia has agreed to allocate an additional €4.5m to the non-profit sector in response to demands from the trade unions. The sector includes a range of health and social services and the extra cash will cover a harmonization of pay structures across the sectors, proper application of elements of the 2007-2009 agreement and a range of measures on employment. The union sees this as a first step to meeting its collective bargaining demands and believes that union action, including a national demonstration on 8 June, was important