Social Services
International Nurses Day 2023: fed up nurses call for higher pay and safe staffing
As we celebrate International Nurses Day on 12 May, we honour the immense contributions of nurses in our society. Although the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, we must never forget the bravery demonstrated by nurses throughout the crisis.
Workers in disability care to push for additional pay rise
The FNV trade union is urging workers in disability care to get involved in a range of actions to support the push for an additional pay rise this year. The collective agreement currently provides for a 3.2% but the union has convinced the VGN employers’ organisation to meet on 9 May to discuss a further increase to help workers cope with the surge in inflation. The FNV wants members to highlight their situation at work and on social media in the lead up the meeting. There will then be a consultation with members on 10 May to decide how to respond to the employers’ offer.
“Why is upskilling and reskilling so important for LTC workers? What impact does it have on quality?”
Last week, EPSU participated in the online launch event of the ‘Partnership for Skills in Long Term Care – Driving Up Training and Life Long Learning’, organised by the project lead, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities.
Unions reject pay offer from care sector employers
Following consultations with their members, the FNV and NU'91 trade unions have rejected a pay offer from the ActiZ and Zorghuisnl employer organisations in the care sector. The sector, employing 470,000 workers is covered by a collective agreement running from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023 but negotiations were opened over a salary adjustment because of the surge in inflation. The employers’ offer of a 5% increase for both this year and next year has been rejected by the unions who point to the 10% pay rises that have been awarded in healthcare. They are also unhappy that the employers
Unions maintain joint efforts in community sector
Fórsa, INMO and SIPTU – the three unions representing staff working in community and voluntary sector agencies funded by the Health Services Executive (HSE) have served fresh pay claims on a number of employers in the sector in the context of an ongoing dispute about pay. Workers in these agencies are on lesser terms and conditions than their counterparts working directly for the HSE. The government has recognised that it is the main and often sole funder of these organisations, and that its funding affects the ability of agencies to improve pay and conditions. Until 2008, workers in these
Korian: negotiations to begin for a new Social Dialogue Ethics Charter
Building on the successful experience of the 1st European works council of Korian, the Korian Group has decided, with the support of the EPSU, to launch with the works council a negotiation on social dialogue within the Group.
World Health Day 2023: workers call for urgent action to improve working conditions
On World Health Day 2023, health and social care workers represented by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) call for urgent action to improve working conditions, reminding policymakers that there is no healthcare without healthcare workers.
Union action secures another pensions success in childcare
Following a successful strike over pensions at the PBL employers’ organisation, the Fagforbundet trade union has managed to secure improved occupational pensions for employees in kindergartens covered by the NHO Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. The four-week strike in NHO companies ended on 17 March with negotiations guaranteeing that the portion of public subsidies intended for pension purposes will be fully applied and that savings rates for pensions will also be guaranteed rather than varying from one kindergarten to another. The deal also means that employers are not tempted to
Union negotiates two-year agreement in private care
The FOA trade union and the Danish Chamber of Commerce have agreed a two-year renewal of the collective agreement for employees private care covering also residential homes and nursing homes for the first time. The hourly wage increases by DKK 6 (€0.80) as of 1 March and there will be a further increase of DKK 5.75 (€0.77) per hour on 1 March 2024. FOA made a point of securing a flat-rate increase for all employees. This will mean that a social and health assistant on day duty can will get a monthly salary increase of just over DKK 3,600 (€485) when the full effect of the collective agreement
Three-year deal in public residential care
On 3 March the FSS-CCOO and FeSP-UGT federations signed a new three-year collective agreement covering around 300,000 workers in the public residential care sector. The agreement runs until 31 December 2025 and was secured after negotiations lasting for almost five years. It includes salary increases of 4% this year and 2.5% in both 2024 and 2025. A salary update clause means that there could be additional adjustments depending on developments in inflation. There will an hours reduction calculated on an annual basis with an 8-hour cut in 2024 and a further cut of 12 hours in 2025. Improvements
Call for carers to join union and push for collective agreement
The EAKL trade union confederation reports that the state wants to give additional pay to carers from July, which requires trade unions and employers to negotiate an agreement. Monthly pay in nursing homes varies from €725 to €1300 per month, depending on the region. EAKL says that trade unions want to negotiate a minimum wage for care workers in a sector collective agreement with a view to achieving the same level as that in the collective agreement for health workers where the minimum wage for care workers in health care institutions is set to reach €1160. With staff shortages reaching
EPSU Social Services Working Group meets in Brussels to discuss key issues in the care sector
EPSU Social Services Working Group discussed effective collective bargaining coverage of social care workers in Central and Eastern Europe, the European Commission’s Skills and Talent Package and other topics.