Company policy and EWCs, Digitalisation
ORPEA unions meet to support workers’ President of European Works Council
On Wednesday 20th April workers’ representatives from the French Multinational ORPEA, affiliated to the European Public Service Union met to discuss the outcome of the first meeting of the European Works Council that has been recently established.
Framework for remote working could be model for public service
Public services union Fórsa has welcomed a new framework agreed between unions and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform allowing civil servants to apply to work “blended” arrangements – combining home/remote work with normal working. Workers whose requests are denied have the right to a review with the aim to resolve the issues that led to the refusal. The framework places a responsibility on managers to ensure a “fair and effective” system with strong supports, staff development, communications, and effective performance management. And it says there can be no change to a worker’s
Collective bargaining and algorithmic management
The European Trade Union Institute organised a conference on 24 March to discuss how collective bargaining can be used to regulate the use of algorithms at the workplace. Along with a number of European experts, there were contributions from national trade union representatives from Poland, Spain, Sweden, Italy, the UK and France. The debates included discussion of the legal frameworks and also how practically collective agreements – even existing clauses – could be used to protect workers’ rights. There were also examples of new and revised agreements that include specific provisions on
Working towards European works councils in social care
Following a two-year project bringing together EPSU affiliates organising in the two social care multinationals - Norlandia and Colisée – major steps have been taken towards building company networks and potentially setting up European works councils.