Low pay/minimum wages, Outsourcing
German unions fight outsourcing in Swedish energy company Vattenfall - Strike action threatened
Press Communication: Brussels Immediate release, 7 March 2006 The European energy sector is in profound turmoil. Already 50 billion Euro's have been squandered on take-overs and mergers, and not returned
EPSU Questionnaire: Outsourcing in the Public Services
Questionnaire FSESP: L'externalisation dans les services publics EPSU Fragebogen: Outsourcing im öffentlichen Dienst Cuestionario de la FSESP: Externalización de los servicios públicos EPSU kartläggning: Outsourcing inom offentliga tjänster {EPSU affiliates
Out-sourcing a priority issue for European Works Councils, argue coordinators and EWC representatives
(Report of the meeting of 10 May 2006) Many companies in the utilities and other sectors outsource activities in different forms, including off-shoring. European Works Councils are also confronted with
Civil service union takes action on pay
On 9 October the KTAMS civil service union organised a day of strike action in all workplaces in which it organises in protest at the sharply falling purchasing power of workers' pay. A steep decline in the Turkish Lira has led to much higher inflation, leaving the minimum wage effectively below the poverty level. The union wants to see legislation that will ensure the increasing cost of living is reflected in workers' pay on a monthly basis. During the day's strike action, KTAMS is organising a march to the parliament to present its proposals.
Union pickets ministry over pay and conditions of bus workers
EPSU affiliate LAKRS organised a picket of the ministry of transport on 4 October calling for better pay and conditions and a collective agreement covering bus workers. The union wants to see a minimum wage of EUR 7 an hour for drivers and action to tackle the widespread problem of long working hours.
Court victory for dismissed care workers
On 17 October the Labour Court in Nordhausen in central Germany ruled that two employees of the Celenus social care company had been unfairly dismissed for trade union activity and should be reinstated. Carmen Laue and Heike Schmidt, members of the ver.di service union, were summarily sacked in April for distributing leaflets as part of a long-running, and continuing campaign for better pay at Celenus which is part of the Orpea social care multinational. EPSU and its affiliates from France, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Spain that also organise in Orpea sent messages of support.