Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining – trends and developments
Collective bargaining is a core activity of trade unions and EPSU’s affiliates negotiate with public service employers at every level. This can range from national public-sector wide bargaining to sector and local negotiations with public sector employers but also private and non-profit providers of public services. EPSU works with the European Trade Union Confederation to try to improve collective bargaining rights for all workers across Europe. We also act as a European information point so that EPSU affiliates are aware of trends in public service negotiations. EPSU’s collective bargaining newsletter provides regular updates on developments across Europe.
EPSU and ETUC welcome last-minute deal on platform directive
Labour movement lobbying helped secure a platform work directive that should provide new rights for millions of workers across Europe. The ETUC and EPSU welcomed the outcome of lengthy negotiations and in particular the inclusion of the presumption of employment in the legislation. This means that Instead of individuals going through lengthy court action to prove they are workers, it will be up to the platforms to prove they are not employees. The directive also recognises the role of trade unions in all aspects of the platform economy, including on issues such as algorithm management. Workers
European Trade Union Federations call on Council to agree Platform Worker Directive with the EP
Next week the final negotiations take place on the Platform workers directive. EPSU joined the other European Federations demanding better rights and protections and for Estonia, France and Greece to stop opposing it.
Report highlights importance of government role in supporting collective bargaining
A policy brief published by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) looks at the role of collective bargaining in providing protection for the low-paid and the important role of government in setting a framework that protects and promotes collective bargaining. The authors found that over time, statutory minimum wages have become increasingly important, while state support for collective bargaining has declined. This is despite the fact that the report finds that state support for collective bargaining appears most successful in containing low-wage employment. The policy brief highlights
ETUC reveals benefits of collective bargaining for work-life balance
An analysis of data working time from the Eurofound research agency by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) shows how collective bargaining can deliver a better work-life balance. Workers in countries with the highest levels of collective bargaining coverage enjoy up to a month more leisure time each year – without loss of pay – than those where coverage is lower. In countries where nine in 10 workers are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the average working time is 1,674 hours a year (excluding overtime). In contrast, in countries where only one in 10 workers are covered
Minimum wage directive - how to deliver on collective bargaining rights
With just under a year to go before all member states of the European Union have to transpose the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive (AMWD), EPSU organised an online briefing for affiliates with a particular focus on the new rights in relation to collective bargaining.
Union challenges government over representation rules
The SDLSN is calling on the government to change the rules on representativeness for civil service pay negotiations. The union is involved in various working groups that are discussing the new pay structure for the public sector but it is concerned that the current rules on representativeness exclude it, and other trade unions, from the formal negotiations. It argues that only the police trade union meets the representativeness criterion for the main negotiations leaving many areas of the civil service without proper trade union representation as the SDLSN and other unions fall below the
Report reveals how strong industrial relations can deliver on efficiency and equity
A new report from the Eurofound research agency, Measuring key dimensions of industrial relations and industrial democracy, provides concrete evidence for policymakers to promote the strengthening of industrial relations. It found that six Member States (Austria, Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden) show how mature systems of industrial relations can combine efficiency, equity and voice. Top of the overall Industrial Relations Index, these countries are among the highest seven performers on the Industrial Democracy Index and Industrial Competitiveness Index, as well as coming
Unions continue protests over state budget and social dialogue
Alongside action by the CGIL and UIL confederations, the CISL trade union confederation is planning a national protest in Rome on 25 November over the government’s budget for 2024 and its refusal to engage with the trade unions. Together with demands for increased funding for public services, CISL wants to see action on staffing and measures to reduce precarious work. It also wants the government to commit to negotiating new collective agreements in the public sector. The mobilisations by UIL and CGIL continue with regional stoppages planned for 24 and 27 November and 1 December.
ITUC welcomes ILO decision on right to strike
The International Trade Union Confederation has welcomed the decision of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation to refer the question of the right to strike to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). There has been a a long-standing dispute between workers’ and employers’ representatives related to the right to strike and the extent to which it derives from the ILO conventions on the freedom of association (87) and the rights to organise and collective bargaining (98). The issue will now be addressed by the ICJ and the ITUC hopes this will unblock the impasse that has