Ireland
Public sector unions are supporting the lunchtime demonstrations around the country on Friday 9 December in protest at the actions of Irish Ferries. Unions are calling on the government to take action to prevent a race to the bottom as the company has taken on migrant workers paying them at 3.60 euros an hour - less than the minimum wage - and cutting back on safety and other conditions.
Read more at > IMPACT
And at > ICTU
Around 2000 public service workers from the three public service federations (CGSP, CSC and SLFP) joined a demonstration outside the ministrey of pensions on 21 January. In response to the specific attacks on public service workers, the federations decided to maintain their actions even while negotiations continue at cross-sector level. The unions managed to get a hearing with the pensions minister who, however, continued to argue the case for the government's pensions and other public spending cutbacks. [Read more at > Le Soir newspaper (FR)->http://www.lesoir.be/763875/article/actualite
Unions in the CGTP federation in both private and public sectors will be joining a national demonstration on 5 June in protest at the government's reforms of the labour code and changes to employment conditions in the public services. Unions are concerned that government policies will lead to an increase in precarious employment and want to recoup lost purchasing power for public sector workers. Read more at > STAL (PT)
