19-2007 epsucob@NEWS 31 October 2007
Oct. 31, 2007
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Nurses' union members back mass resignation
The TEHY nurses' union is continuing to build support for the planned mass resignation of nurses on 19 November. So far 13,000 nurses have committed themselves to the protest action, part of TEHY's campaign to secure a higher pay offer from the municipal employers. Read more at > YLE news (EN)
Oct. 31, 2007
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Public service unions set next day of action
The seven public service unions have announced 20 November, the day parliament votes on the 2008 budget, as the next day of action in protest at the government's failure to respond adequately to their demands on pay. The unions are looking for a reform of the pay structure and some compensation for the 6.5% loss of purchasing power of public sector workers since 2000. The government has responded with two minor reform proposals but also confirmed its plans to cut a further 22,000 jobs next year. [Read more at > UGFF-CGT (FR)->http://www.ugff.cgt.fr/ftp/communiques/fonction_publique/22_10_07
Oct. 31, 2007
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Unions plan further protests over pensions
Energy sector unions were pleased with the level of support for their protests on 18 October and are meeting to plan the next stage in their campaign against government plans to reduce benefits in their pension schemes. The changes would require more years of contribution to secure full benefits and pose a threat to the defined benefits system. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)
Oct. 31, 2007
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Public service unions join together in general strike
The three main union federations in the public sector - FP-CGIL, FPS-CSIL and FPL-UIL, organised a national strike on 26 October in protest at the government's failure to set a budget for 2008 that would allow for a decent pay rise for public sector workers. EPSU General Secretary Carola Fischbach-Pyttel and PSI general secretary-elect Peter Waldorff joined the demonstration in Rome. See images from the demonstration at >FP-CGIL
Oct. 31, 2007
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Thousands join demonstrations over pay and workers' rights
The FNFSP public service union federation reports that thousands of workers from all over the country joined the national demonstration on 18 October to protest against the government's policies on pay and reform of workers' rights in the public sector. See images at > FNFSP (PT)
Oct. 31, 2007
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Unions take initiative to resolve municipal dispute
The unions in the municipal sector, ABVAKABO, CNV Publieke Zaak and CMHF are putting forward a compromise to try to end the long-running dispute over the new collective agreement. The proposal is to accept a slightly lower overall pay increase - 6.35% instead of 6.4% - in order that the local authority employers will take action to compensate workers who lose between €100 and €180 a month of their early retirement benefits as a result of tax rules. [Read more at > ABVAKABO (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/cao/bericht/handtekeningenactie_gemeenten_loopt_storm/] [And at > CNV Publieke Zaak (NL)-
Oct. 31, 2007
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Local government pay deal accepted
The dispute over local government pay in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has ended with UNISON accepting the employers' final offer of 3.4% on the lowest pay rate (scale point 4) - giving a new bottom rate of £6 per hour with 2.475% on all other pay rates. A ballot on strike action in protest at the offer had produced a small majority in favour of action but with a low turnout the union's national joint council recommended acceptance of the deal but early talks with other unions about securing a higher pay deal in 2008. Local government workers in Scotland are covered by a separate
Oct. 31, 2007
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Progress on agreement for overseas workers
Following strike action and demonstrations, the public service federations have welcomed some initial progress on establishing a new agreement covering embassy, consulate and other overseas public service workers. Negotiations will now take place on the detail of the agreement that should cover a broad range of pay and conditions. Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES) And at > FSAP-CCOO (ES)
Oct. 31, 2007
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First stage in public sector pay negotiations
The first stage of negotiations for the 2008 pay increase for around 400,000 public sector workers got under way last week with a presentation on the state of the economy. Christian Meidlinger, leader of the GDG local government union stressed that although a concrete demand had not yet been put forward, that public service workers would be looking for a decent increase in the light of inflation and economic growth. The GDG criticised public services minister Doris Bures for her public statements before the start of the negotiations with reference to outsourcing and questioning the right of
Oct. 31, 2007
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ETUC issues warning about Commission's flexicurity strategy
The latest issue of the ETUC's collective bargaining bulletin warns that the European Commission is trying to re-focus the European employment guidelines around towards more flexible working practices, making it easier for employers to fire workers while at the same time reformulating workers' security as the security to be able to move into a new job. The bulletin explains that a key element of the approach is to use indicators developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which, according to the ETUC, “suffers from a fundamental bias. It is constructed to advance