Brazil, France

The CGT-FNME and FO-FNEM energy federations are planning strikes and other action on 29 January in protest at the law on energy transition. This follows an initial day of action on 4 November. The unions argue that while the law appears to have good intentions in relation to green energy, it conceals further steps towards liberalising the sector with the threat to jobs and pay and conditions that this would involve. [Read more at > CGT-FNME (FR)->http://www.fnme-cgt.fr/pages/communique.php?id=320] [And on the 4 November action at > CGT-FNME (FR)->http://www.fnme-cgt.fr/pages/blank-width.php?id

The AMUF trade union for emergency doctors has negotiated what is regarded as an historic agreement with the government on working time after 14 years without progress on the issue. Coming into effect in July this year, the agreement will set 39 hours a week as a threshold above which doctors cannot deal with patients. For hours between 39 and 48 they can only deal with administrative tasks or take part in meetings and those hours will be covered by additional payments. Work up to 60 hours a week will only be possible on a voluntary basis. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www.cgt.fr/Un-accord

Five union organisations - CGT, FO, FSU, FA-FPT and Solidaires - have called for strike action on 9 April in protest at the impact of austerity policies on jobs, services and the pay and conditions of public service employees. They are also concerned about the restructuring that is taking place without proper consultation with the unions. The unions want to see a general pay increase, a moratorium on restructuring and an investment plan to boost the economy. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/spip.php?article9000] [And at > FO (FR)->http://www.force-ouvriere.fr/9-avril

Thousands of health workers joined the demonstration in Paris on 21 May called by seven unions - CGT, Sud, FO, CFDT, Unsa, CFTC, CGC - that organise workers at the AP-HP public hospitals in the Paris region. They were also joined by a managerial union SMPS. The protesters gathered outside the office of the AP-HP director who received a delegation of union representatives. The director claimed that the 35-hour week was not under threat but the AP-HP plan was to reorganise working time. Trade unionists from outside Paris joined the march as there are concerns that any changes introduced at such

Health unions are mobilising this month over threats to the health service and the proposed changes to working time at the Parisian public hospitals group AP-HP. The CGT, FO and SUD unions are planning a strike on 25 June in protest at austerity measures to be imposed on the sector. The CFDT at AH-HP has said that negotiations over working time are only possible if a several clear conditions are met. The union is also planning strike action on 11 June. [Read more at > CFDT Santé Sociaux (FR)->http://www.sante-sociaux.fr/cfdt-aphp/] [And at > FO Santé (FR)->http://www.fosps.com/tous-en-greve-le

Six public service federations (CGT, FO, FSU, SOLIDAIRES, CFTC and CFE-CGC) have agreed a joint statement attacking the government for imposing a further year's pay freeze on public sector workers. The government has stated that it will not discuss uprating the index point (the basis on which public sector salaries are calculated) until the middle of next year. The unions argue that this will mean an unprecedented four-year freeze in pay. The federations are also critical of plans for further changes to pensions and to continuing job cuts. The organisations will meet again in September to

The French government, eight trade unions and the representatives of public employers signed a framework agreement on 22 October on the prevention of psychosocial risks. The agreement requires each public employer to draw up a "psychosocial risk assessment and prevention plan" by 2015. Other undertakings include better resourcing of health, safety and working conditions committees (HSC), more time off for duties, and of preventive health services. An initial assessment report on implementation of the agreement is to be submitted before the end of 2015. [Read more at > ETUI->http://www.etui.org

Trade unions representing midwives have been calling for some tmie for improvements to their pay and conditions, including a revaluation of their salary in line with their level of training and medical responsibilities. Negotiations in the public hospitals sector took place on 13 November but no progress was made in the absence of the minister for health. As a result thousands of midwives joined a national demonstration on Tuesday 19 November with many taking strike action. [Read more at > CFDT (FR)->http://www.fed-cfdt-sante-sociaux.org/content/sages-femmes-la-cfdt-sante-sociaux-en-faveur-d

Several public sector trade union organisations are coordinating a week of action on pay in December (9-13). The unions and federations - CFDT, CFTC, CGC, CGT, FAFPT, FSU, Solidaires et UNSA - are protesting about the freezing of pay as of 1 July 2010 and the extension of this freeze until 2014. The unions say that there are major problems withe the pay system and career development while years of austerity and low or no pay increases have left around one in five public sector workers on not much more than the minimum wage. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http://www.spterritoriaux.cgt.fr/spip.php

GDF-SUEZ petitionThe five trade unions that organise in the GDF-SUEZ energy company - CGT, FO, CFDT, CFE-CGC and CFTC - have launched a petition over the company's imposition of a below-inflation pay increase (0.3%) and its decision to reduce the proportion of staff promoted to higher grades. The unions want to re-open negotiations on these two points as well as get a commitment from the company that it won't undertake any plans involving job cuts or any initiatives that undermine the IEG sector agreement. See attached statement and petition.