2012 May epsucob@NEWS 10
Public sector unions gradually build up strike action
Several trade unions in the public sector are involved in strike action that began on Thursday 24 May after attempts at mediation in pay negotiations failed. The unions involved are coordinating their action and gradually increasing the number of workers coming out on strike. At the centre of the dispute are the unions’ efforts to ensure that pay increases in the public sector are in line with those in the private sector. [Read more at > news website (EN)->http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/05/25/nationwide-strike-set-to-spread/] [And at > Fagforbundet (NO)->http://www.fagforbundet.no/] [And at
Union challenges outsourcing in water and social care
The SIPTU general union is planning to ballot 2,500 local government workers in the water sector over industrial action in protest at plans to outsource the service. The union says the plans go against previous commitments and there has been no consultation or negotiation over the proposals or the impact on the workers concerned. Meanwhile it is also involved in a campaign against the outsourcing of home helps and the erosion of quality care. [Read more on water at > SIPTU (EN)->http://www.siptu.ie/media/pressreleases2012/featurednews/fullstory,15918,en.html] [And on home helps at > SIPTU-
Living wage victory for hospital cleaners
Public service union Unison has won a pay victory for cleaners at St.George's Hospital along with formal recognition by the contract cleaning company that runs the service. Workers will get the London Living Wage of £8.30 (€10.40) an hour from 1 August. This compares to the National Minimum Wage which is only £6.08 (€7.16) an hour for workers aged 21 and over. Read more at > Unison (EN)
Labour law reforms mapped
A new working paper from the ETUI trade union research institute maps labour law reforms in various European countries either triggered by the crisis or introduced using the crisis – falsely – as an excuse. In several countries fundamental changes are being made to industrial relations structures and processes which might jeopardise social dialogue and collective bargaining there. Read more at > ETUI (EN)
Federations mobilise over attacks on workers and services
The FSC-CCOO and FSP-UGT public service federations have launched a series of actions across the public sector to highlight the impact of cuts on public sector workers and the quality of services. The first day of action focused on local government. At regional level the unions have had some success at least in Andalucia where the autonomous government has said it will suspend its planned package of cuts while it negotiates with the unions. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)->http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Inicio:359953] [And at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/UGT_y_CCOO_convocan_.htm]
Dealing with violence at work
The FOA public services union and Danish Nurses' Organisation organised a joint conference on 29 May to discuss how to deal with the problem of violence in psychiatric care. The two organisations are concerned about the level of violence including very serious cases and they argue that strategies are needed to prevent and manage incidents. The unions note that increased pressure of work, the risk of working alone and shortage of staff have contributed to the problem. Read more at > FOA (DK)
European Parliament adopts report on equal pay
The European Parliament has adopted a report on Equal pay for male and female workers for equal work or work of equal value with a wide range of recommendations for action. The report notes the lack of adequate statistics and calls for more transparency on pay, with equal pay audits of employers. It also notes the need to tackle the structural problems of lower pay in sectors dominated by women. Read more at > European Parliament (all EU languages)
Back to the bargaining table in the waste sector
Trade unions and employers are set to re-start negotiations in the waste sector which has been without a new collective agreement for over a year. Negotiations broke down earlier this year after the unions had rejected what the employers' had said was their final offer and the reaction of the employers was then to make a lower offer. Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)
Unions build for firefighters' strike on 18 June
The three main union organisations for firefighters (FP CGIL, FNS CISL and UIL PA) called a press conference for 30 May to highlight their main demands in the lead up to national strike action on 18 June. Among their main concerns are the lack of a pay increase since 2008, the shortage of staff, increasing casualisation, lack of funding and the failure to recognise firefighting as an arduous occupation, which is important in relation to pension rights. Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)
Energy union protests over working conditions and privatisation
On 23 May the SPEK energy trade union organised a protest in Prishtina in front of the offices of the Ministry of Economic Development which manages the KEK energy company. The union action was in protest at the way workers in the company have been treated and the privatisation of two important divisions of KEK, namely the supply and the network divisions.