Unions plan action over pay

The Kommunal local government union, representing mainly nurses and blue-collar workers in health, cleaning and catering is planning a campaign of industrial action beginning on 29 April. A pay increase of 6.8% over three years is on the table in line with developments in industry. However, Kommunal wants a flat-rate increase of 1740 SEK (€205) as a way of providing lower paid workers with a higher increase. Kommunal argues this is vital step in tackling the lower pay levels in sectors where women make up the majority of workers. The union is also calling for an end to split shifts and

The Tehy and SuPer trade unions representing nurses and other medical staff have set out plans for strike action to give impetus to the negotiations in health and social services. The two unions want to see positive action on salaries and have set out a five-year rescue programme for the health and social services sector. This includes increases to the basic wage level of 3.6% annually in addition to the normal contract increases that protect purchasing power. With women making up 90% of the care workforce, the unions argue that this is an essential measure to address the persistent gender pay

Five of the public service federations have come together to call a day of action with strikes and demonstrations on 8 February. The day of action will the latest stage in a long-running campaign by the unions to try to establish proper negotiations covering the French public sector. Unions were angered by the implications of a statement by the public service minister that linked cuts in public service jobs to higher salaries. The unions want to see a minimum 1.7% increase in 2007 (forecast inflation) and further increases to compensate for the failure to match the rise in prices since 2000.