2014 November epsucob@NEWS 20
Massive support for health workers' action
Health worker unions report massive support for the second round of strike action and working-to-rule in support of their pay claim. As with the first action in October, some unions took four hours of strike action on 24 November and were then joined by more unions supporting a work-to-rule. Unions involved in the action included the nurses and general health workers organised by unions like Unison, GMB and Unite as well as specialist unions representing midwives, radiographers, dieticians, consultants, managers and those working in prison psychiatric services. [Read more at > Unison->http:/
Unions organise strikes over government policy
On 1 December the Cisl-Fp public service federation is calling its members out on strike across the public sector in protest at the continuing block on collective bargaining and government plans for public sector reforms. On 12 December the Cgil and Uil confederations have called a general strike also in protest at government economic policy and plans for labour and public sector reform. [Read more at > Cisl-Fp (IT)->http://www.cisl.it/Sito.nsf/le-notizie/2014/11/21/sciopero-pubblico-impiego-primo-dicembre-lettera-furlan-volantino?opendocument] [And at > Cgil-Fp (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex
Demonstration highlights rights of sub-contracted worker
A major demonstration organised by the Yol-iS trade union has increased pressure on the directorate of highways to extend collective agreement coverage to sub-contracted workers. This is a major issue for trade unions and Yol-iS has won a number of court rulings saying that sub-contracted workers should be covered by the main collective agreement. Read more at > EPSU And at > Yol-iS (TK)
Care workers win long-running strike
After 90 days, the longest running social care strike in the history of the NHS, has ended. The employees of Care UK in Doncaster in north east England have won 12 months' pay protection, tax free and restored the principle of premium rates for unsocial hours. They also won a 2% pay rise (or linked to the consumer price index, if greater) for the next three years, as well as a £500 unconsolidated payment this year. UNISON argues that the determined action by the care workers has raised awareness of the pay and conditions of care workers in privatised companies throughout the country. [Read
Court ruling boost for care workers
A regional labour court ruling means that care workers can claim the minimum wage for their on-call hours. The particular case involved a care worker on a two-week rota of shifts providing round-the-clock care for two sisters suffering from dementia. She had to sleep on the premises and was paid less than the minimum wage for the care sector (€8.50) for those periods when she was not working but still on-call. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
Unions organise budget protest
Public sector unions are planning a demonstration outside parliament on 6 December in protest at the government's latest budget proposals. The unions have been in the process of negotiating a salary increase after a six-year pay freeze. However, publication of the budget has revealed that the government has changed its spending plans and the proposals could been a further five-year freeze. Trade unions organising health, education, university and defence workers will join the demonstration and call on MPs to vote to revise the budget with inclusion of funds for a pay increase for public sector
Energy unions signs sector agreement
The SSESM energy union has signed a new collective agreement with the energy employer's association. The sector agreement will apply international labour standards, harmonise employment conditions across the sector and establish a framework of rights for the employees. This is with a view to maintain fair competition between employers at a time when there is an urgent need to provide job security, promote social rights and a healthy working environment. The employers expressed their commitment to social dialogue. [Read more at > Denar news website (MK)->http://denar.mk/64637/ekonomija/potpisan
Regional impact of restructuring
The tripartite research body, Eurofound, has published a new study examining the process of restructuring from a regional perspective. Along with background research, a number of case studies look at the extent to which various stakeholders are involved in the process. This can include national governments aong with regional and local actors government, public employment service, social partners, the restructuring company and service providers. The commitment and active engagement of all relevant regional and local stakeholders was seen as one of the keys to a successful outcome. [Read more at
New report analysis impact of economic governance on collective bargaining
A new report analyses the impact of economic governance on collective bargaining in six countries - Bulgaria, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain. It looks at the effect on both outcomes - wage freezes and cuts - as well as processes such as decentralisation of collective bargaining and undermining of multi-employer bargaining. The report is based on a research project coordinated by the Spanish trade union research institute Fundación 1er Mayo and Fernando Rocha Sanchez from the Fundación will be at the EPSU collective bargaining conference in January to provide an overview of the research
Union federations sign well-being agreement
EPSU and the industriAll trade union federation have signed a agreement on well-being at work with the French multinational utility GDF-Suez. The agreement aims to improve quality of life at work, looking at various aspects of the content of work and working conditions, opportunities for professional development, organisational changes and work-life balance. It also highlights the special responsibility of managers (from directors to managerial employees) regarding the issues of quality of life at work. Read the agreement in 10 languages at > EPSU
Unions suspend talks with minister over civil service agreement
Anger is building among civil servants after four years without a re-negotiated collective agreement. The last agreement ran until 1 January 2011 and talks with the government resumed in May this year but the four trade unions involved decided to pull out. They are particularly angry that the civil service minister is blocking a change to pension payments that would have meant a 0.8% increase to salaries from 1 January 2015. Earlier in the month unions had organised protests around over the long-delayed collective agreement. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/over-ons
WICARE conference on pay and conditions in social services
The final conference of the WICARE project on pay and conditions in social services took place in Amsterdam on 18 November, organised by the AIAS research institute that coordinated the project. The overall findings were discussed and several country reports considered in detail. There was a general view that the reports provided affiliates with some useful and interesting information, providing a perspective on what individual workers actually thought of their pay and conditions. One of the key findings was the widespread and high levels of dissatisfaction with pay. Draft reports are
Nurses continue action over jobs and pay
Nurses are continuing their campaign for more jobs and for improvements in pay and conditions, including working time. The SEP trade union reported high levels of support for the two days of action on 14 and 21 November. The actions put SEP in a strong position in the lead up to negotiations with the health ministry will take place on 15 December. [Read more at > EPSU (EN)->http://www.epsu.org/a/10952] [And at > SEP (PT)->http://www.sep.org.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5703:sep-sauda-todos-os-enfermeiros-o-sep-e-seram-ja-solicitaram-reuniao-ao-min-da-saude&catid=144&Itemid