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Confederation backs calls for pay rises for frontline workers
The EAKL trade union confederation has called for real wage increases for frontline workers, particularly in the light of all their efforts during the pandemic. Negotiations on health workers’ pay are now continuing through a national conciliator and EAKL is particularly concerned that the pressures on the service need to be addressed and particularly the low levels of pay that is driving workers away from the sector. Meanwhile the confederation reports that negotiations on the salaries of emergency service and police officers have not even started and is concerned that the state budget is not
Health workers in Scotland offered 4% pay rise
In contrast to the 1% increase on the table in England, health trade unions in Scotland are considering a 4% pay offer. This would be backdated to 1 December 2020 and cover the period to 31 March 2022. The lowest pay rates (up to around GBP 25000 pa (EUR 29000)) would get a GBP 1009 (EUR 1180) increase worth 5.46% for the lowest paid. The 4% applies to pay rates from GBP 25000 to around GBP 50000 (EUR 58500) and higher rates get lower increases. Health trade unions have been calling for higher pay rises, not just in recognition of the efforts of staff during the pandemic but also as a crucial
New agreement but also union action in non-profit sector and childcare
A new agreement between unions, employers and the Flemish government has delivered a range of benefits for workers in various health and social services in the non-profit sector. Overall, there will be the equivalent of 3,716 new posts to help tackle high workloads. There will be a general 1.7% increase in wages but with some additional increases for those on the lowest pay rates and those will long service. In elderly care, the rehabilitation sector, psychiatric care homes and sheltered living initiatives, there will be a new pay structure from 1 July 2021, bringing pay rates in alignment
Call for collective agreement and better procurement in waste sector
Following raids by the Federal Competition Authority on waste companies the vida services union has renewed calls for a collective agreement for the sector and stricter procurement criteria. The union says that discussions about a collective agreement have been going on for more than 10 years and that it is time for those responsible to finally take the final step. However, the union argues that there is also an urgent need for binding criteria for the award of contracts based on the best bidder principle rather than lowest price. This would mean specifying issues such as the sustainability of
Unions set to mobilise across water company
Unions in the AdP – Águas de Portugal – water company will be planning mobilisations and potential strike action unless the company responds to some key demands. The STAL trade union reports that many issues have remained unsolved for several years. Unions accuse the company of making excuses for its failure to properly implement the collective agreement signed almost two and a half years ago, with no pay rise since November 2018 and no plans to introduce the allowance for dangerous and arduous work that it now being applied across many municipalities. The unions submitted a review of the