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.

Date
Jun. 26, 2025

Eurofound links minimum wage hikes to modest pay gains

Europe

A new Eurofound report finds that increases in national minimum wages are contributing to modest gains in collectively agreed pay and actual wages in many low-paid sectors across Europe. Covering developments between 2015 and 2022, the study notes that higher minimum wages are associated with a greater likelihood of renewing collective agreements in sectors such as care and food manufacturing. The report combines quantitative and qualitative data and shows that a 1% rise in national minimum wages corresponds to a 0.2% increase in negotiated pay and a 0.31% increase in actual wages for the
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Jun. 26, 2025

SDLSN excluded from state negotiations

Croatia

On 23 June 2025, the Trade Union of State and Local Government Employees of Croatia (SDLSN) strongly protested their exclusion from the ongoing negotiations on the annex to the collective agreement for state workers. According to the union, they were not invited to participate in the first bargaining session held on 12 June and were later informed about the meeting only indirectly via a letter from the two police unions leading the talks. SDLSN denounced this approach as “unacceptable and non-transparent,” especially since the agreement directly affects the rights and conditions of nearly 7
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Jun. 26, 2025

Improved agreements with the Church of Sweden

Sweden

Several unions have reached new collective agreements with the Church of Sweden covering around 20,000 workers across the country. Vision , Kommunal , Vårdförbundet and Akademikerförbundet SSR concluded negotiations in mid-June with the Church’s employer organisation (SKAO). The new two-year agreements, covering the period from 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2027, include a total wage increase of 6.4% – with 3.4% in the first year and 3% in the second – in line with the national benchmark. Pension premiums will be raised by 0.7% from May 2026, with the goal of a 2% increase over time. A number of
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Jun. 26, 2025

Wage agreement reached in non-profit sector

Norway

Unions including Fagforbundet , NITO , NTL , LO and others have reached an agreement with the employers’ organisation Virke covering workers in non-profit institutions delivering public services. The deal applies to a wide range of sectors, including kindergartens, health and social services, higher education, specialist health services, and cultural institutions. The agreement includes general wage increases for all covered workers. For those under the municipal wage structure (e.g. kindergartens and care services), workers will receive between NOK 14,500 and 21,200, while managers will get a
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Jun. 26, 2025

Council workers reject 3.2% pay offer

U.K.

Council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland represented by Unite have overwhelmingly rejected the employers' pay offer of 3.2% from 1 April 2025. The offer was made without negotiation, prompting Unite to consult its members in a ballot where 84% voted against. GMB and Unison also recommended rejection, highlighting the offer’s failure to address a decade of real-terms wage decline. Their consultative ballots closed on 20 June, and results are expected soon. Since 2010, local authority workers have seen their pay fall by around 30% in real terms, while six councils have gone
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Jun. 26, 2025

Firefighters demand urgent improvements in working conditions

Spain

On 16 and 17 June, forest firefighters and environmental agents in the Community of Madrid held coordinated protests to denounce critical understaffing and the lack of resources ahead of the high-risk fire season. On 16 June , CCOO, CSIF and UGT-CAF gathered forest agents outside the regional environment ministry. They reported that fewer than half of the 453 needed agents are currently employed, raising serious concerns about fire readiness. Union representatives also pointed to unsafe working conditions in local offices, including exposure to radon gas, lack of drinking water, and
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Jun. 26, 2025

New deal for primary care workers

Netherlands

Dutch union FNV has reached a new collective agreement with employers for workers in general practitioner care. The agreement, covering staff in daytime GP clinics and out-of-hours care centres across the Netherlands, runs from July 2025 to July 2027. Wages will increase by more than 9% in three phases: 3% in November 2025, July 2026, and May 2027. A new generation scheme will allow eligible staff to reduce working hours while keeping most of their income and full pension accrual. Other gains include a rise in the Friday evening shift allowance to 50%, reimbursement for cycling to work, and
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Jun. 26, 2025

New agreement signed in energy sector

Slovenia

The SDE Slovenia has signed an Annex to the Collective Agreement for the Energy Sector after concluding negotiations, which ensures a salary increase in the energy sector starting June 1, 2025, of 2.1%. Despite a poor starting point for negotiations, where the employer's side only wanted an 85% adjustment to Slovenia's inflation in 2024, which was 1.9%, the union successfully concluded negotiations and achieved a larger correction than the inflation rate. The SDE signed the basic salary increase at the industry level, while the Collective Agreement with its clauses allows for further
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Jun. 26, 2025

Strikes and actions in care and defence sectors

Italy

On 12 June, five Italian unions – Fp Cgil , Cisl Fp, Fisascat Cisl, Uil Fpl and Uiltucs – declared a national strike covering over 10,000 workers employed in facilities under ANASTE – the employers’ organisation representing private and non-profit providers that manage residential and care facilities for elderly and dependent people in Italy. The move followed a negotiation meeting on 10 June, where ANASTE presented a contract renewal offer including a €55 increase for level 4 full-time workers, partial improvements to sickness benefits and a small contribution for supplementary healthcare
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Jun. 26, 2025

New agreement signed in healthcare as unions take different paths

Italy

Following prolonged negotiations at ARAN, a new national collective agreement for Italy’s public healthcare workers (2022–2024) was signed by CISL FP , Nursind, Nursing Up, and FIALS. Covering around 580,000 workers, the agreement provides an average gross monthly pay rise of €172, applies retroactively, and introduces new professional roles such as the “assistant nurse,” along with updates to career structures and job classifications. While the signatory unions consider the agreement a step forward in recognising the evolving needs of the healthcare system and improving pay, CGIL FP and UIL
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Jun. 12, 2025

Employers suspend talks in non-profit health and care sector

France

In France, negotiations in the non-profit health, social and care services sector (BASSMS) have been suspended after the employers’ organisation AXESS walked away from talks on the future collective agreement. The employers are demanding firm and long-term state funding guarantees before continuing discussions, especially regarding salaries. The CFDT Santé-Sociaux criticised the move, warning that it undermines social dialogue and breaches the jointly agreed negotiation timeline. While recognising the sector’s financial strain, the union insists that funding demands must be based on negotiated
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Jun. 12, 2025

New agreement for equality commission staff

Malta

A new collective agreement has been signed between the General Workers' Union and Malta’s National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, covering both general and managerial grades. The agreement, in place until 2030, brings improvements to salaries and working conditions, providing long-term stability for staff engaged in equality work. The agreement includes commitments to improve working conditions and ensure fairer compensation for all employees. It is also expected to support the retention of experienced staff and strengthen the Commission’s ability to attract skilled professionals in
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Jun. 12, 2025

Wage deal reached for municipally-owned companies

Norway

Fagforbundet , Delta , EL og IT Forbundet and Akademikerne have reached a 2025 wage agreement with the employer organisation Samfunnsbedriftene. The deal covers workers in municipally-owned companies. The agreement provides general pay increases of NOK 14,500 for unskilled workers, NOK 15,500 for skilled workers, and NOK 16,700 for skilled workers with vocational college education. Staff in unregulated positions—typically managers not covered by fixed pay tables—will receive a general increase of 2.7%. In addition, from 1 August, 1.15% of the total amount agreed will be allocated for local
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Jun. 12, 2025

No pay rise for civilian defence personnel

Spain

CCOO , UGT, CSIF and CIG have denounced the Ministry of Defence for failing to present a proposal for a fair and adequate salary increase for civilian personnel. A rally is planned for 12 June in front of the Ministry in Madrid to demand action. Since February, the unions have been calling for a pay rise for all civilian workers in the Ministry — including civil servants, employees and statutory staff — comparable to that granted to military personnel. Despite these efforts, the Administration, led by Minister Margarita Robles, responded only to two organisations not recognised in the official
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