Equality, Central government
Pay deal will help reduce gender pay gap
(May 2016) Municipal workers' union, Kommunal, has negotiated a new three-year agreement covering the welfare sector that includes a real pay increase for all but a higher pay increase for skilled nurses. This is a key part of the union's strategy to tackle the gender pay gap. In 2016 the basic pay increase will be SEK 520 (EUR 56) while nurses will get SEK 2010 (EUR 110). The agreement also includes provisions to ensure that full-time employment is the norm in the sector. Read more at Kommunal (SV)
Public sector deal delivers on pay and working time
(May 2016) A new agreement covering the public sector provides a 7.5% pay increase for many workers but also higher increases of 10%-15% for some professions. An important element of the agreement is that it can be extended to private and non-profit organisations who provide services to the public sector. The agreement also includes provisions to ensure more full-time work for part-time workers who want it. Read more at Histadrut
Airport workers strike in support of public sector pay claim
Services union ver.di organised a strike of airport workers on 27 April to support the current negotiations covering 2.14 million employees in federal and local government. The union dismissed the employers' offer of a 0.6% pay rise this year (1.2% in 2017 and 2018) as an insult. Ver.di's claim is for a 6% increase in a 12-month deal, along with an extra EUR 100 for trainees. Read more at ver.di (DE).
EPSU expresses solidarity with LGBTI community on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2016
(17 May 2016) Today, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2016, EPSU expresses its solidarity with all members of the LGBTI community. This year’s theme is mental health
European Parliament calls for tougher rules on tax avoidance but they’ll need to be tougher still to stop corporate tax dodging
(25 May 2016) The European Parliament has long been an ally of the tax justice movement, pushing for concrete and ambitious measures against the tax dodgers. The Economic and Monetary
Real wage rises for 2m public sector workers
(May 2016) After three rounds of negotiations and a series of warning strikes, public sector unions have agreed a two-year deal covering just over two million workers in national and local government. There will be a 2.4% pay increase this year, backdated to 1 March and a 2.35% next year as of 1 February. There are also increases for apprentices and an extension to the agreement to offer apprentices jobs when they quality. Read more at ver.di (DE)
Union signs deal for rail infrastructure workers
(May 2016) The ST civil service union has negotiated a new agreement covering companies in the rail infrastructure sector. There will be a wage increase of 2.38% along with increases on unsocial hours payments and the agreement runs until 30 April 2017. There are also provisions to increase job security with monitoring of the use of fixed-term contracts, The agreement also includes clearer language on the employer's responsibility for the working environment, covering issues like workloads, overtime and victimization. Read more at ST (SV)
Science union demonstration calls for more funding
(June 2016) The union for National Academy of Sciences Workers organised a demonstration outside the parliament on 15 June call for a major increase in spending on science spending. The union points out that, according to the final provisions of the Law on Science, such funding should be 1.7% of GDP by 1 January 2020, but last year it was only 0.3% of GDP, and this year is 0.2%. The lack of funding is having a direct impact on science workers and if there is no increase then employees of the National Academy will either have to go on unpaid leave or work part-time. This is part of a long