Staffing levels

Psychiatric hospital workers across Bulgaria, represented by the Federation of Health Trade Unions at CITUB , have launched protests demanding higher wages and improved working conditions. On 17th March, doctors, nurses, and support workers at the state psychiatric hospital in Sevlievo began a three-day action, calling for a 50% wage increase and recognition of their work as second category due to its complexity and risks. Workers in psychiatric hospitals in Pazardzhik and Tsarev Brod have joined the protests, with further action planned in Karlukovo on 18th March. The union demands include a

Fórsa and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have served notice for industrial action in Ireland’s public health system, starting on 31 March 2025. The dispute stems from chronic understaffing, worsened by a government-imposed hiring freeze that has left critical healthcare positions unfilled. The Health Service Executive (HSE) and publicly funded Section 38 hospitals have faced escalating recruitment restrictions since 2023. What began as a limited hiring pause expanded into a full freeze, preventing the replacement of vacant posts. Despite repeated union demands, the HSE has

Dentists working in the public sector held a one-day strike on 14 February to protest against heavy workloads, low wages, inadequate working conditions, and deteriorating employment rights. Supported by SES trade union , the strike highlighted issues such as understaffing, increasing patient numbers, short appointment times, and widespread burnout in oral and dental health services. Demonstrations took place across the country, with dentists calling on the Ministry of Health to improve working conditions, address material shortages, and hire more support staff. Their demands include involving

Belgian unions FGTB-ACCG , CSC-ACV , and CGSLB-ACLVB are calling for a national demonstration in Brussels on 13 February to defend public services and purchasing power. Organised by a united trade union front, the mobilisation comes in response to proposed austerity measures, cuts to pensions, and threats to automatic wage indexation. Unions warn that political leaders are pushing for 14 billion euros in cuts to public services, along with a further 3 billion in pension savings. Other proposed measures include restricting early retirement (RCC), making end-of-career arrangements less

Ireland’s healthcare unions, including the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and Fórsa , are planning industrial action to address severe staffing shortages in the public health service. Recruitment restrictions and suppressed posts by the Health Service Executive (HSE) have been criticised for placing services under strain and jeopardising patient safety. Union leaders have called the current situation unsustainable and are meeting to finalise strategies for industrial action. The HSE has labelled these plans as regrettable, pointing to its Pay and Numbers Strategy as evidence of

Police officers, firefighters, and prison workers gathered outside the Ministry of Interior in Prague to demand better funding and improved working conditions. Organised by the Union of Security Forces (UBS) and the Czech Firefighters’ Union (OSH ), the protest highlighted long-standing issues, including underfunded salaries, high staff turnover, and poor recruitment and retention conditions. The unions criticised the government’s proposed salary increase of 2,500 crowns as insufficient to address decades of neglect. They are calling for all funding to be directed into salary tariffs and for

Following challenging collective bargaining and warning strikes, Ver. di has successfully secured a relief agreement with Hannover Medical School (MHH), aiming to address critical staffing shortages. Effective January 1, 2025, the agreement enforces specific staffing requirements across hospital wards, ensuring that workers in nursing, patient transport, and therapy receive needed support. These levels align with PPR 2.0, a new regulation introduced in July 2024 to improve nurse-to-patient ratios. For units frequently falling below the target staffing or facing other high-stress conditions

In Andalusia, several unions, including CCOO , SATSE, CSIF, and UGT , have mobilized to advocate for the rights and welfare of healthcare workers. These unions emphasize the need for the Andalusian Health Service (SAS), the public healthcare provider in the region, to respect existing agreements, particularly those related to job stability and professional development opportunities. A key issue is the lack of progression within the professional career structure for healthcare staff, which has limited advancement and fair compensation. The unions are also pressing SAS to address hiring

Around a thousand firefighters gathered in central London to demand immediate government action to rebuild the fire and rescue service. The rally, organized by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) , brought together firefighters from across the UK. The FBU has highlighted the crisis facing the fire service after 14 years of austerity. During this time, the sector has seen a 20% reduction in its workforce, while central government funding has been slashed by 30%. As a result, response times have worsened, and a lack of national standards has created uneven fire cover across the country. The union is