15 epsucob@NEWS 31 July 2006
Jul. 31, 2006
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Pay report highlights gap between old and new EU Member States
The 2006 review of pay across Europe by the EIRO industrial relations observatory indicates that on average collectively negotiated pay increases in the EU15 remained at 3.0% in 2005, the same figure as 2004, while the New Member States saw the average rise to 5.6% to 6.7%. In the EU15 and Norway pay rises in local government averaged 2.2% in 2005 down from 3.2% in 2004. There were fewer figures available for the New Member States but the average of 3.7% in 2005 was down on the 5.2% recorded in 2004. Civil service pay deals in the EU15 and Norway averaged 2.3% in 2005 down from 3.0% in 2004
Jul. 31, 2006
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Unions attack public service job cuts, threats to services and inadequate pay rise
The French government plans to cut 15,000 jobs from the public services in 2007. Public service unions CGT and FO have criticised the proposals arguing that the government has no real strategy for the public sector and is simply aiming to cut back the role of the state. Unions argue that as public service workers face another year with below-inflation pay increases, the quality of public services will suffer. The unions want a proper review of public services and a re-opening of pay negotiations. The 2006 pay increase of 0.5% for public service workers was implemented on 1 July. [Read more at
Jul. 31, 2006
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Public employees statute moves closer to becoming law
The Spanish Council of Ministers approved the basic bill covering public employees earlier this month (July 2006) that means that the bill will now go through the parliamentary process to become an act. It has taken around 18 months of meetings, reports and negotiations to finalise the statute that will apply to 2.5 million public employees in central, regional and local government as well as the autonomous provinces. Some of the key points of the new law include: · Creation of basic standards, including pay, across the whole of the public sector but at the same time allowing enough
Jul. 31, 2006
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Gender pay gap averages 17.8% across European Union
The 2006 pay review by the EIRO industrial relations observatory includes a section on the gender pay gap and indicates a small increase in the average gap across the EU, up from 17.5% to 17.8%. The New Member States Malta and Slovenia appear to have the smallest pay gaps at 4.0% and 6.9% respectively while Germany and Greece have the largest gaps (26.0% and 25.5%). Read more at > EIRO (EN)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Union takes pay campaign to Parliament
The PCS public and commercial services union is continuing its campaign for national pay bargaining in the civil service. As part of its campaign the union has submitted a fair pay petition signed by over 50,000 civil servants to the House of Commons. The petition calls for an end to pay discrimination created by decentralised bargaining in the civil service that has led to significant pay differences between people doing the same jobs in different departments. Read more at > PCS (EN)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Municipal employers agree to negotiate on hospital workers' pay
The ver.di services union has secured an agreement from the VKA municipal employers' organisation that they will negotiate a new pay agreement covering all employees in municipal hospitals. The union is pleased that the new agreement will cover doctors as well as other staff as it had feared that the VKA might opt for separate agreements. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Unions challenge government's privatisation claims
The CGT and FO energy unions plan to consult employees of the GDF energy company over the proposed privatisation of the company through merger with the Suez private utility company. The unions are angry that the government repeatedly claims that GDF employees support the privatisation and want to use the consultation to refute this. The unions hope that the consultation planned for 7 September will help it build support for the planned day of action on 12 September. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Local government pensions debate
The local government pensions debate in the UK is reaching a crucial point as the government publishes new proposals for changes. One area where unions have already expressed concerns is the proposed removal of the right for individual local authorities to offer additional years of pension entitlement. Unions say that the proposed increase in the lump sum available at retirement will not be adequate compensation for this planned restriction. Read more at > UNISON (EN)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Union calls for consultation with workers over heat wave emergency measures
The health section of the CGT union federation has criticised the French health minister for failing to invite employee representatives to a recent meeting to discuss how to deal with the heat wave. The union says that this is a snub on workers who are doing their best to make up for deficiencies in the system. The union also points out that the government has failed to respond to its proposals for emergency training provisions which has raised before in negotiations and raised again earlier this year. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Civil servants' pay claim in Northern Ireland focuses on low pay
NIPSA, the union organising public service workers in Northern Ireland, is calling a significant pay increase for the lowest paid civil servants. As part of its pay claim for 2006 the union wants a minimum flat-rate increase of £3,311 a year while it is looking for a pay rise that will more than compensate for the 8.3% loss in purchasing power suffered by civil servants in recent years. Read more at > NIPSA (EN)
Jul. 31, 2006
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Book your place at EPSU's 2006 collective bargaining conference
This year's conference will include a review of key negotiating developments in the public services as well as specific debates on how to improve conditions for young workers, migrant workers and older workers through collective bargaining. Pensions equality will also be discussed in working groups on the second day of the conference. Further details and a participation form are available on the EPSU website. European Commission funding means that we are able to offer a limited amount of financial support to participants from European Union member states in Central and Eastern Europe as well