Local government

After weeks of negotiations and a tense third round of collective bargaining, talks for the 2.5 million federal and local public service workers in Germany have collapsed, with unions blaming employers for refusing to reach a deal. The collapse of negotiations follows growing frustration among public service workers over stagnant wages, rising inflation, and increasing workloads. Ver.di demanded a substantial wage increase, including a social component to support lower-income workers, as well as improvements in partial retirement and a more flexible working time. However, employers rejected

Wage negotiations between Norway’s major trade union confederations , LO and YS , and the employer organisation NHO have both ended without agreement. The talks will now move to mediation with the National Mediator on 31 March. If no agreement is reached by midnight on 1 April, a large-scale strike could begin on 2 April, affecting up to 220,000 workers. While LO and YS negotiate separately, both have raised similar demands for real wage growth, fair distribution of wage increases, and higher general wage adjustments rather than company-specific increases. NHO, representing employers, insists

On 20 March, nurses from Lisbon’s health centres will strike and hold a rally at the Ministry of Health at 10:00 am. Organised by SEP , the strike demands the payment of all retroactive wages since 2018, the completion of competitions for managerial and specialist positions, and harmonisation of pay and resources across units. Nurses are also calling for the implementation of the “career accelerator” and urgent hiring to meet service needs. The union argues that the integration of Lisbon’s health centres into new local health units (ULS) in early 2024 has worsened administrative and financial

Turkish trade unions have launched several industrial actions in response to unfair dismissals, union-busting, and deteriorating working conditions across multiple sectors. On 6 March, Hizmet-iş protested against the local municipality’s dismissal of 14 union members and pressure on 1,300 others to resign from the union. The dispute follows failed collective bargaining talks with Altındağ Municipality’s which refused to honour a previous agreement and attempted to roll back wage increases. Union representatives condemned the employer’s actions and vowed to resist until all dismissed workers

The Trade Union of Administration and Judiciary of Montenegro (SUPCG) launched a series of protests after the government failed to respond to their demands for improved pay, housing support, and fair labour laws. Despite submitting their demands to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić on 7 February 2025, no negotiations were initiated by the 20 February deadline. The first protest is scheduled for 6 March in front of the government building, with further demonstrations planned until their demands are met. Key demands include signing an annex to the housing cooperative agreement, a 10% increase in job

Local government workers in Portugal staged a strike on 28 February, disrupting services such as garbage collection and school operations. The action was called by STAL , an affiliate of CGTP-IN, to demand salary increases, career advancement, the revocation of SIADAP (the public administration performance assessment system), and a 35-hour workweek for all. Thousands of workers joined a protest in Lisbon, marching from Praça da Figueira to the Ministry of Finance. STAL criticised the government’s recent salary update of €56, arguing that it fails to address the cost-of-living crisis. While

Belgium’s unions FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV have announced a general strike for 31 March to protest against the Federal Government’s austerity measures. The unions are calling for the protection of automatic wage indexation, better pensions, and improved working conditions. They argue that the proposed policies undermine workers’ rights and social protections. The announcement follows a mass protest in Brussels on 13 February, where around 100,000 people demonstrated against cuts affecting public services, unemployment benefits, early retirement, and pensions. FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV have denounced

A week after their initial protest, Ardennes firefighters, mobilised by the CGT union , have intensified their strike over staffing concerns. Despite a meeting with management on Monday, the union reports no progress on operational regulations, citing insufficient proposals to address the lack of personnel. While new hires were announced, the CGT union explains that they will not increase the overall staffing or budget of the fire service. Instead, they only maintain the current workforce, failing to address the shortage that the union is protesting against. This situation reflects a broader

Workers at the Municipal Urban Transport Services of Coimbra (SMTUC) have launched a strike demanding better wages and the recognition of professional careers for drivers and mechanics. The industrial action, organised by the trade union STAL , began on February 10 with over 97 percent participation and will escalate in the coming months. A key issue is the lack of structured career paths for drivers and mechanics, who are currently classified as operational assistants. The workers are demanding fair recognition of their roles, a hazardous and unhealthy work supplement, improved working

The government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has signed an agreement with the Trade Union of Civil Servants and Employees in State Administration, Judicial Authorities, and Public Institutions (SUFBIH) on the base salary and coefficient for wage calculation. The agreement follows ongoing negotiations between the government and the union, aligning with the Law on Salaries and Allowances in Government Bodies of FBiH and the Collective Agreement for Civil Servants. The union had justified its demand for a new base salary through an analysis of the rising cost of living and wage

Unions representing 1.4 million council and school workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have submitted a pay claim demanding a £3,000 wage increase for all employees. UNISON , GMB , and Unite argue that a substantial rise is essential after years of declining real wages and rising living costs. Local government and school staff have seen the value of their pay fall by 25% since 2010, according to the unions, with last year’s wage settlement averaging just 2.5%. This is significantly lower than the increases awarded to teachers (5.5%) and doctors (over 6%). The unions warn that

After three months of negotiations, five trade unions— SINTAP , FNSTFPS, STML, STAL , and SNBP—have signed an agreement with the government that improves pay and working conditions for firefighters. The deal secures salary increases, maintains career structures, and ensures further negotiations on unresolved issues. One key outcome is the retention of seven career categories, after the government proposed reducing them to five. Unions argued this would limit career progression and salary growth. The agreement also preserves the 35-hour workweek and rejects a proposal for additional mandatory

Belgian unions FGTB-ACCG , CSC-ACV , and CGSLB-ACLVB are calling for a national demonstration in Brussels on 13 February to defend public services and purchasing power. Organised by a united trade union front, the mobilisation comes in response to proposed austerity measures, cuts to pensions, and threats to automatic wage indexation. Unions warn that political leaders are pushing for 14 billion euros in cuts to public services, along with a further 3 billion in pension savings. Other proposed measures include restricting early retirement (RCC), making end-of-career arrangements less

Workers in Toulouse’s local administration, including municipal and metropolitan services, have intensified their mobilisation against austerity policies that have led to understaffing, budget cuts, and deteriorating working conditions. The CGT and SUD unions have called for a strike and demonstration on 4 February in response to sweeping reductions in operational budgets and job cuts. The protest follows months of action by library workers, who have been mobilising since December against measures that unions say are dismantling public services. The introduction of PROXIMA, a restructuring

Workers in local administration, municipal companies, and concessionaires took to the streets of Lisbon on 2 February, demanding real wage increases, career development, and the repeal of the SIADAP performance evaluation system. The demonstration, called by STAL and STML, was organised in response to policies that unions argue are eroding wages and worsening workers’ living conditions. Unions highlighted that inflation has surged by 16% over the past three years—matching the rise of the previous 14 years combined—while essential costs such as food and housing have increased even more sharply