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EPSU affiliates joined the national rally over pay and prices organised by the CMKOS trade union confederation on 5 September. CMKOS is stressing that pay demands should be met as the current surge in inflation is not the result of higher wages. The confederation also wants to see measures to cap prices and tax excess profits and for the monthly minimum wage to be increased by CZK 2000 (€82) to CZK 18200 (€742). CMKOS has now called for a national demonstration in Prague on 8 October. Meanwhile, the OSZSP health union is demanding a 15% pay increase for all health workers in 2023. Negotiations

The Tehy and SuPer nurses’ unions have responded angrily to plans by the government for legislation that would effectively ban strike action in health and social care. The unions are in dispute with the municipal employers who have rejected a proposal for a five-year strategy to increase pay and tackle the staffing shortage in the sector. In response, Tehy and SuPer have been running a campaign of industrial action and recently announced targeted strike action around the country. Rather than intervene and discuss with employers and trade unions how to resolve the dispute the government is

Unions representing local government workers in Scotland – UNISON, Unite and GMB – have suspended strike action while they consult members over an improved pay offer from the employers. The three unions are recommending acceptance of a deal that would provide a £2000 (€2310) annual pay rise for the lowest paid; £1,925 (€2225) for those earning between £20,500-£39,000 (€23700-€45000); a 5% increase for those earning between £39,000-£60,000 (€45000-€69360); and a maximum increase of £3000 (€3470) for the highest paid. The pay increases will be based on a 36-hour rather than 37-hour week and are

The health and social care federation, FSS-CCOO, is closely monitoring companies in the care sector to expose those that fail to apply the salary increase of 6.5% from January 2022, in line with an earlier court ruling. The union has denounced the companies for their treatment of care workers and the wage freeze imposed since 2020, despite the provisions of the agreement. The union also points out that even with 6.5% wage increase, some workers will still be left on pay rates below the minimum wage – a situation made much worse by soaring prices. FSS-CCOO underlines that this only goes to

The FESAP federation of public service unions, including the SINTAP trade union, has written to the prime minister calling for a state budget in 2023 that would allow for pay increases across the public sector and a wide range of improvements in other employment conditions. Alongside the need to address the scourge of low pay across the public sector, especially for workers with long service, the federation also wants action on career development, precarious contracts and health and safety – all measures it says are necessary to address staff shortages. Meanwhile, the STAL local government

Firefighters’ unions, including Fp-Cgil-Vvf and Fns-Cisl have called a national demonstration in Rome on 14 September with urgent demands on pay, staffing, equipment and safety. With services stretched to the limit to tackle the increasing number of forest fires, flood and other emergencies, the unions argue that the number of active firefighters needs to be increased from 33000 to 40000 and professional and technical staff from 2000 to 5000. They are also concerned about inadequate and out-of-date equipment which not only hampers their response to emergencies but exposes firefighters to

The FNV trade union has called on workers to back a wave of wage demands in response to surging inflation. The union is targeting employers to get wage increases that protect against the higher cost of living, including additional increases where pay rises have already been negotiated. It is also calling for permanent contracts for workers stuck in precarious employment. The union demands include a €14-an-hour minimum wage, a 35% tax on profits in line with what workers pay on their income and other tax measures to boost public revenues. At the same time, a consortium of trade unions