Germany
(August 2016) Services union ver.di is concerned about the impact on workers' rights of the takeover of the AHG group by the Median company. With the takeover Median will become largest rehabilitation company in Germany with 15000 workers but it has taken a stance against collective bargaining under the influence of its main investing company Waterland. It has said to ver.di it will no longer negotiate collective agreements. Read more at ver.di (DE)
Services union ver.di has expressed concern about the planned takeover of the Rhön group of hospitals by the Fresenius group. The resulting company, with 80000 employees, would be a dominant company and pose a major challenge to church and other non-profit hospitals. Ver.di will be trying to ensure that the costs of the merger and the new company's search for profits will not result in attacks on workers' pay and conditions. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
(June 2016) The vida and GPA-djp service unions have negotiated a new collective agreement with private employers in the spa and rehabilitation sector and includes a 1.3% pay increase from 1 July with a backdated lump sum of EUR 220 to cover the period October 2015 to June 2016. The agreement runs until the end of 2017 and includes a further pay increase on 1 January 2017 that will be based on the average inflation rate between October 2015 and November 2016. The trade unions and employers emphasised the importance of an effective social dialogue in delivering results for both employees and
The Kommunal local government union has published a report exposing the poor performance of employers in the sector when it comes to rehabilitation. According to the survey only one in 10 workers return to work after injury thanks to rehabilitation services provided by employers and only 15% of employers adapt work for workers. Kommunal believes that there should be sanctions applied against employers who fail to provide adequate rehabilitation services. It also argues that there should be changes to health and unemployment insurance to support workers while off sick. [Read more at > Kommunal
