France
The FNME-CGT, FO-FNEM and CFTC unions in the energy sector have called for two days of strike action on 21-22 January to protest at plans by the SNET energy company, owned by the Germany energy multinational EON, to close coal-fired power stations and cut 535 jobs by 2015. The unions want commitments to prolong the life of some power stations and to investigate the conversion of others while also confirming investment in new biomass initiatives.
The health federation of the CGT union is planning a two-day strike on 18 and 19 September in support of six key demands: salaries that reward qualifications and recognise the difficulty of the job, career progression with quotas, a minimum public sector salary of €1,550 a month, improvements in working conditions, urgent plans for training, and better provision for union reps to perform their duties. Read more at > CGT Santé (FR)
The SINTAP public services union organised a two-day strike of health workers on 2-3 May in protest over working hours, excessive workloads and overtime and the need to improve career development. The union wants to see the 35-hour week guaranteed for all health workers, ensuring equal treatment across the public services. SINTAP highlights the problem of excessive workloads with many workers building up large credits of overtime worked. It is calling for workers to be paid for their overtime and for an increase in employment to address the problem of workloads. Early indications were of very
