Collective Bargaining
Collective bargaining – trends and developments
Collective bargaining is a core activity of trade unions and EPSU’s affiliates negotiate with public service employers at every level. This can range from national public-sector wide bargaining to sector and local negotiations with public sector employers but also private and non-profit providers of public services. EPSU works with the European Trade Union Confederation to try to improve collective bargaining rights for all workers across Europe. We also act as a European information point so that EPSU affiliates are aware of trends in public service negotiations. EPSU’s collective bargaining newsletter provides regular updates on developments across Europe.
Collective bargaining news from around Europe
(July 2016) The latest collective bargaining newsletter from the ETUI includes several articles on public services - pay developments affecting health staff (Hungary, Romania) and public service workers in general (Croatia, Ireland), strike action by museum workers in UK and action by Bulgarian unions over the right to strike. Read more at ETUI (EN).
Employers challenge generally binding agreements
(August 2016) The Trade Union News website reports that employer organisations are beginning a campaign against the generally binding nature of collective agreements. This is an important element of Finnish industrial relations ensuring that collective bargaining coverage is very high - 75.5% in the private sector and 100% in the public sector. The trade union confederations have made clear their support for the system which they argue prevents undercutting by unscrupulous employers. Read more at Trade Union News (EN). Also see a recent analysis by the ETUI.
Positive pay trend in first half of year
(August 2016) Pay deals at an average of 2.5% in the first half of the year were slightly below the same period last year but delivered a 2% real increase in pay with inflation at only 0.5%. This is the main finding of the regular analysis of collectively negotiated pay deals published by the trade union-linked WSI research institute, part of the Hans Böckler Foundation. The major deals during this period included the 2.4% awarded to federal and local government workers and the 2.8% in the metall sector. Read more at WSI (DE).
Strike vote enough to stop private contractor cuts
(August 2016) Staff at Cardiff Hospital working for the contractor ENGIE stopped proposed cuts to hours and pay enhancements following a 100% vote for strike action. The workers provide portering, catering, security, reception, housekeeping and cleaning staff to St. David’s Hospital could have lost hundreds of pounds a month under the changes, with redundancies also threatened. The company has withdrawn the proposals and also recognised Unison for collective bargaining. Read more at Unison.
Survey shows positive developments in collective bargaining
(August 2016) A survey of collective agreements across the Czech Republic for 2014-2015 shows ear-on-year, there was a significant increase in the number of collective agreements containing commitments on overall wage increases and commitments to increase salary tariffs. The survey also looked at salary bonuses and benefits as well as working hours and holidays where there were no significant developments over the period covered. Read more at Eurofound.
Unions argue for increased wage share
(August 2016) The International Trade Union Confederation and trade unions at the G20 summit of leading industrial nations have called for world leaders to take urgent steps to boost the global economy through co-ordinated action to increase wages and their share in national income. The ITUC says that rebuilding strong labour market institutions to create quality jobs and reduce income inequality must be a priority. Read more at ITUC (EN/FR/ES).
European solidarity for action at social care company
Unions across Europe sent their solidarity messages to members of ver.di who organised a day of action against CELENUS, the German subsidiary of the ORPEA social care multinational. The protest in Berlin on 28 September follows months of protests and strike action as ver.di members attempt to secure their trade union rights and right to organise and the reinstatement of sacked activists. The union is also fighting for demands for safe staffing levels and decent pay and conditions.
Unions launch public service pay campaign
The KKDSz culture workers' union and BDDSz childcare workers' union have been instrumental in getting the SZEF public sector confederation to launch a campaign on public service pay. The confederation is highlighting low pay and understaffing across the public services and the need for negotiations on long-term pay development in the public sector. It calls for action on corruption and the need for a redistribution of government spending to workers to ensure a fully staffed and professional public service delivering quality services.
Report analyses collectively negotiated wage and productivity trends
A new report from the Eurofound research agency analyses trends in collectively negotiated wages compared to productivity over the 2000-2017 period. The report says that: "From an employee perspective...applying harmonised consumer prices, wages per employee have grown more slowly than productivity since the beginning of the millennium and the gap has been widening, despite hourly wages having been more aligned." It adds that: "In most countries with available data (14 EU Member States), there has been a positive wage drift since the early 2000s, indicating that actual wages have grown more
Prison unions unite in strike action over pay
Prison sector unions are planning a series of 24-hour strikes beginning on 24 October in protest at the withdrawal of a pay offer by the prison service. The unions have been campaigning together for several years to secure improved pay as a key measure to tackle staff shortages in the sector. Following the installation of a new government, the prison service offered to increase the prison pay bill by EUR 122.6 million over the next three years. The unions were angry and astonished when, at a meeting on 25 September, the head of the prison service announced that the offer was withdrawn on the