017 epsucob@NEWS September 2008

A series of assemblies have been organised over the next few weeks for different groups of workers in the public sector to discuss how to react in response to massive cuts in the public sector pay budget. The government claims that it is ready to negotiate over public sector pay increases for 2008-09. However, trade unions argue that government figures reveal a shortfall of €1.7 billion in the public sector pay budget and that on this basis workers can only expect a pay cut in 2009. [Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/7883] [And at > FP

The CGSP public services federation has announced two 24-hour strikes in the prison service on 18 and 25 September. Meanwhile the CSC federation has informed the Ministry of Justice that it might also take strike action but will not confirm its plans until a meeting on 23 September. The unions are protesting over a range of issues including implementation of agreements signed with the previous government, recruitment of more staff, training and career paths and investment in prisons. [Read more at > Le Soir (FR)->http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/belgique/deux-greves-de-24h-dans-les-2008-09-16

Public sector unions met with government representatives for the first time since the general election with a view to maintaining continuity in the discussions over pay, jobs and services in the public sector. The general pay increase for public employees is set at 3% for 2009 with those employed by the general state administration getting 3.875%. However, unions have called for this to be reviewed towards the end of the year in the light of increasing inflation. The unions also expressed concern at government plans to cut jobs in response to current economic difficulties. They argued that in

The latest analysis from the WSI trade union research institute shows how pay developments in Germany have fallen behind all other EU Member States. Since 2000 real wages in Germany have fallen by 0.8%, the only EU Member State where there has been a decline. Several countries, particularly among the New Member States, recorded increases over this period of more than 30% and even seven of the EU-15 saw real wages increase by more than 10%. The report suggests that negative wage drift is a particular German problem with some locally negotiated increases falling below what is agreed at sectoral

Figures produced by the FO civil service union federation show how different groups of workers are losing out because of below-inflation pay increases in the public sector. Last year’s 0.8% rise was below the 1.5% inflation rate meaning that workers were losing between €136 and €198 in purchasing power. The situation this year is worse with a 0.8% compared to inflation of 3.2%. Over the two years workers will be up to €880 worse off. The union believes that things will only get worse with 0.5% increases foreseen for the following three years. [Read more at > FO-Fonctionnaires (FR)->http://www

The ETUI-REHS has published a report on trade union rights in the public sector that highlights some of the problems faced by EPSU affiliates in relation to union organisation, collective bargaining and strike action. The report includes country reports and outlines the various ways in which EPSU, ETUC and individual affiliates can campaign and lobby at international, European and national level to secure and protect their rights. [Read more at > ETUI-REHS (EN)->http://www.etui-rehs.org/research/activities/Employment-and-social-policies/Reports-and-discussion-papers/Report-105.-Better

The SETCA/BBTK trade union has called for proper negotiations in response to the health ministry’s plans to improve the attractiveness of healthcare professions. The union welcomes the initiative but argues that issues covered in the plan – such as reducing workloads, tackling stress, training and qualifications and pay – should all be the subject of collective bargaining. The union is also concerned about any proposals to single out particular professions for special treatment when it is important to see how the various professions complement each other. [Read more at > SETCA (FR)->http://www

The ETUI-REHS research organisation has published three-part guide on sustainable development for trade unionists. The first section covers general information and theories about sustainable development and the second concentrates on corporate social and environmental responsibility. The third section looks at a range of specific challenges in achieving sustainable development. The guide touches on the role of social dialogue and collective bargaining and how these can address sustainable development issues. [Read more at > ETUI-REHS (EN)->http://www.etui.org/education/Ressources/Syndicalisme

The CGT, FO and FSU public service federations have rejected government proposals to cut pension entitlement for public sector workers. The workers affected are public employees who don’t have civil service status and who are covered by the IRCANTEC pension scheme. The government wants to reduce the IRCANTEC pension in terms of the level of salary it replaces from 75% to 67.3%. The unions argue that it is possible to maintain the replacement rate at 75% particularly if the government increases the employers’ contribution which is currently much lower than it is for civil servants who are

EPSU’s annual conference on collective bargaining and social dialogue will take place in Brussels on 9-10 December and is open to all EPSU affiliates with some sponsorship money available for participants from the New Member States and Candidate Countries. Apart from reviewing developments in social dialogue and collective bargaining in general and in the public services there will also be specific debates on equal pay and the impact of recent European Court cases (Laval, Viking, Rüffert, Luxembourg) on collective bargaining. There will be a choice of workshops and the possibility of taking