006 epsucob@NEWS April 2008
Pay demonstration attracts 35,000
The ETUC reports that over 50 trade union organisations brought delegations from 30 countries to Ljubljana in Slovenia in a major demonstration over decent pay. The demonstration was called to highlight the common problems facing Europe's workers: shrinking purchasing power, wage moderation and inequalities and to coincide with a meeting of the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council. Read more at > ETUC (EN) And in French at
Pay deal means 7%+ for lowest paid in federal and local government
After very disappointing recommendations from the arbitration commission, verdi is recommending to its members that they accept a new offer from the federal and local government employers. Ver.di's collective bargaining committee voted 64-25 in favour of the employers' latest offer which is a significant improvement both on earlier offers and on the proposals from the arbitrators. If backed by the ver.di membership the deal will mean an increase in 2008 of at least €50 a month plus 3.1%. These figures translate into a 7.11% increase for those on the lowest pay scale. The increase in 2009 will
Unions win pay increase to end Ministry of Justice strike
After two months of strike action, trade unions in the Ministry of Justice have agreed a deal that provides for a €190 pay increase for around 10,000 workers. The increase will be paid in two instalments - €160 in 2008 and a further €30 in 2009, together with a one-off payment of €480. The dispute was over major discrepancies in pay between workers at the Ministry and those doing similar jobs but who had been transferred to the regions and were earning around €200 a month more. [Read more at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/index.php/mod.noticias/mem.detalle/idnoticia.3854/cat.1029] [And
Norwegian unions win early retirement and 5.6% pay deal
Negotiations last week between Norwegian unions, the NHO employers' organisation and the government ended with a positive result for the trade unions as the government agreed to extra funding to continue to provide early retirement pensions. The official retirement age in Norway is 67 but workers can retire from 62 on a slightly reduced pension. The agreement ensures that workers still have this option as well as being able to continue working. The negotiations also resulted in a 5.6% pay increase covering mainly private sector workers, with higher increases for the lower paid. The collective
ETUC warns of social dumping threat from Court judgement
A new ruling from the European Court of Justice has created more concern among European trade unions that collective agreements are being undermined by internal market rules. The Rüffert case concerned an attempt by the regional government of Lower Saxony in Germany to ensure that construction workers employed on a prison building contract were paid in line with the relevant collective agreement. The authorities discovered that workers employed by a Polish sub-contractor were begin paid less than 50% of the rate in the relevant collective agreement. The European Court of Justice ruled that the
Health service pay increase worth 8% over three years
Trade union in the health sector are consulting their members over a three-year pay deal that is worth around 8% in total but with higher increases for the lower paid. Pay would rise by 2.75% this year with a 2.54% increase in 2009. However, next year would see the minimum pay rate set at £6.77 an hour (€8.50) so the increase for the lowest paid would be 5.7%. In 2010 most workers would get 2.5% but a minimum increase of £420 (€525) would mean 3.17% for the lowest paid. [Read more at > UNISON (EN)->http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=4157] [And at > GMB (EN)->http://www.gmb.org.uk
Public and private sector unions to protest against government policy
The CGTP-IN trade union confederation has called two demonstrations in April in protest at government policies on employment law, public sector reform and a range of other issues. The CGTP-IN is particularly concerned about government changes to the Labour Code that will undermine collective agreements while its public sector affiliates will be continuing their long-running campaign over employment reforms and loss of purchasing power. The Confederation is calling on affiliates in the North of the country to mobilise for a demonstration in Porto on 16 April while those in the South will march
Mobilisation helps win 4.35% pay increase for energy workers
Workers covered by the EnBW private energy agreement in Baden-Württemberg have seen their pay increase by 4.35% from 1 March this year in a new 13-month agreement. Ver.di reports that worker mobilisation was important in winning the improved offer with 3,500 employers demonstrating their support for the union at the time of the fourth bargaining round. The deal also provide for a minimum €90 increase and a €120 payment to take account of the fact that this is a 13-month agreement. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://energie-bergbau.ver-und-entsorgung.verdi.de/uebersicht_bundesfachausschuesse
Coastguards organise second one-day strike
With no progress on pay negotiations, employees of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are due to take a second day of strike action on 11 April. The PCS trade union has been in a long-running dispute over pay, arguing that coastguard watch assistants have a starting salary (£12,097 - €15,100) that is little more than the minimum wage. The MCA is just one of nine government agencies and departments that have faced strike action over pay in recent months. Read more at > PCS (EN)
Union ballots health service members over recruitment freeze
The Impact public service union is balloting its 28,000 health service members over potential industrial action in protest at a continuing recruitment freeze imposed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE has persisted with the policy despite criticism in two court judgements that highlighted the HSE's failure to consult properly with trade unions in line with the “Towards 2016” national agreement. Read more at > Impact (EN)
Confederation organises fourth equal pay day
The FGTB/ABVV organised its fourth equal pay day on 31 March in support of further measures to close the gender pay gap. The confederation adopted 31 March as the day in recognition of the 25% average pay gap between male and part-time female workers - this means that effectively women work for a quarter of the year for no pay. The FGTB/ABVV wants to see action take to improve childcare, for a re-evaluation of so-called feminine occupations, for better protection of part-time workers and for more attention to be paid to the issue of gender equality in education. [Read more at > FGTB (FR)->http
Local government unions consult over "disappointing" pay offer
Local government employers have made a final offer of a 2.45% pay increase with an extra £100 on lower pay rates. While this is an improvement on the previous offer of 2.2%, it falls well short of the trade unions' claim for 6% or 50p per hour. Unions will consult over the offer with UNISON recommending rejection. Read more at > UNISON (EN) And at > GMB (EN)
Pensions demonstration called by civil service union
The FO-Fonctionnaires civil service trade union is calling on members to join local demonstrations on 16 April to protest over pension reforms. The union wants to make it clear that 40 years of contributions are already too much and that increases to 41 or 42 years are completely unacceptable. The union believes that everyone should retain the right to retire at 60. Read more at > FO (FR)
EPSU regional collective bargaining meeting in Berlin 13-14 May
EPSU is organising a series of regional meetings to discuss collective bargaining and social dialogue. The aim is to provide another forum, in addition to the annual conference, in which to discuss policy and information. The first meeting took place in London on 3-4 March and provided some valuable input into the organisation of the main annual conference in Brussels on 9-10 December. Further meetings will take place in Berlin on 13-14 May (for affiliates from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Slovak Republic) and in Rome