Privatisation

French unions are preparing for another nationwide strike on 4 February 2025, following their massive mobilisation on 5 December 2024. The action, called by the inter-union coalition (CFTC, CGT, FO, FSU, STC, SUD) , highlights growing concerns over privatisation, precarious work, and low wages in the wake of the so-called "Full Employment" law. Since its implementation, the law has accelerated the outsourcing of public services and increased workloads. Workers at France Travail face mounting pressure, with the registration of 1.5 million additional people, rising unemployment, and growing

Family doctors in Turkey staged a five-day strike from December 2 to December 6, 2024, in protest against the controversial Family Physician Payment and Contract Regulation. The regulation, which came into force on November 1, 2024, has been widely criticised for imposing performance-based measures that undermine working conditions and restrict access to public healthcare. The strike, organised by the Family Medicine Workers’ Union (AHESEN) and supported by other healthcare organisations, including SES, The Health and Social Service Workers' Union, highlighted concerns about salary deductions

Swiss unions, including the public service union VPOD , are mobilizing for a referendum on November 24, following a successful signature campaign earlier this year aimed at repealing the EFAS healthcare reform. Despite being voted in the national assembly, EFAS has faced strong opposition for its potential to increase health insurance contributions and compromise care quality. EFAS introduces a centralized funding system for both inpatient and outpatient care across Switzerland. While the reform is promoted as a way to streamline costs, unions argue that it will ultimately shift more of the

Health workers around the country, many of them employed by private contractors and among the lowest paid, have had to resort to strike action to ensure they get a £1600+ (€1870) lump sum payment that was paid to most directly employed staff last year. Action has just paid off for members of UNISON and Unite in Dudley in the West Midlands where until recently their employer, Mitie, had refused the payment. UNISON members were also successful following their action in the South West against the contractor Sodexo and Wiltshire Health and Care, a company jointly owned by three NHS trusts. UNISON

The UNISON, Unite and GMB trade unions have been mobilising their members in the NHS and private contractors to secure unpaid COVID bonuses and pay rises. UNISON and Unite members are taking on Mitie, the large private contractor, which has refused to pay a COVID bonus despite the company being signed up to the national Agenda for Change agreement which requires the payment. Meanwhile, Unite members formerly employed by the contractor Serco but now directly employed by the NHS at Bart’s Hospital in London are also claiming their COVID payment which the hospital management have so far refused