2011 December epsucob@NEWS 21

The public sector union federations FP-CGIL, CISL-FP, UIL-FPA and UIL-PA organized joint strike action on 19 December in protest at the latest austerity measures. The federations were very pleased at the level of support, taking account of the fact that they had only week to organize the action. They are calling for negotiations with the unions over national and decentralized bargaining as well as issue such as threat to privatize local services. [Read more at > FP-CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/20732] [And at > CISL-FP (IT)->http://www.fp.cisl.it

The three public sector union federations supported national strike action in protest at government plans for pension reform and its failure to undertake any negotiations with the trade unions. The changes to pensions will mean working longer for a lower level of benefit as the retirement age is increased and the period for calculating pensions is increased from the last five years to the last 10 years in the job. Workers of all ages would be affected if the reforms go through unchanged. [Read more at > EPSU (EN, FR, NL)->http://www.epsu.org/a/8277] [And at > CGSP (FR)->http://www.cgsp.be/code

The Greek government has been pushing through a number of labour relations reforms as part of the austerity packages that have been forced upon the Greek people by the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission,. The reforms included the annulment of collective agreements. The unions have complained about these measures to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO sent a High-level Mission to Greece to consider the application of a number of Conventions which were violated. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations

Following the public sector wide strike on 30 November, the government has come up with revised proposals for the various public sector schemes which unions are now trying to evaluate. In the health sector the government is now saying that those within 10 years of retirement will not be affected and there will be no contributions increase next year for those earning less than £26000 (€31300) a year. This goes some way to meeting union demands. In local government the unions – Unison, Unite and GMB – had seen the basis for negotiations to resume in January but have suspended agreement to this

The Vision and SSR white-collar and graduates trade unions have set out their key demands in the forthcoming negotiations that cover 140,000 workers in local and regional government. They are looking for increases in real wages for all members with a minimum outcome of 3.6%; measures to address the structural differences in pay between female and male-dominated occupations; better conditions and greater security for temporary workers; improved conditions for young academics, including more holidays for all aged under 40 years. [Read more at > Vision (SV)->http://vision.se/Opinion

Ver.di reports that campaigning and industrial action at the CFM facilities management company have produced some initial improvements for workers and the promise of further negotiations in the new year. The union began negotiating with CFM in May 2011 but have been in dispute with the company since September (see epsucob@NEWS [16->http://www.epsu.org/cob/441] and [17->http://www.epsu.org/cob/443]). The company provides cleaning, catering and other services to the Charité hospitals in Berlin. In January 2012 all low-paid employees will get a minimum wage from the company of €8.50 an hour and

The November meeting of EPSU’s Executive Committee agreed a new development in the Federation’s collective bargaining work with plans to organize a first meeting of a collective bargaining network. A provisional date for the first meeting was 10 January but this has now been deferred, probably until April but a definite date will be circulated to all affiliates early in the new year. A collective bargaining conference is also planned for 2012 and this will take place in Brussels on 13-14 December.

Laboratory workers and cleaners have both managed to secure improved pay following separate strike action against their employers, the University Hospitals of Geneva. Both groups of workers felt that they had lost out when pay structures had been introduced or revised in the past and both will now have better opportunities to move up the pay structure. A joint committee will also look at staffing and career development issues for both groups of workers. Employers have also withdrawn their threats of disciplinary action against striking activists. [Read more at > VPÖD (DE)->http://www.vpod.ch

National and regional trade union federations have come together to protest against cuts to services and public sector jobs at regional level. Thousands took part in a demonstration in Barcelona where the regional government is planning cuts to pay and changes to working conditions. A major protest in Pamplona highlighted the threat to public services and where 1130 jobs have already been cut or are being cut with more under threat. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)->http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Inicio:291525] [And at > FSP-UGT (ES)->http://www.fspugt.es/Miles_de_manifestantes_salen_a_la

Inflation in the year to October 2011 at 2% has lead to an automatic increase in the minimum wage to €1393.82 a month. This has major implications for the public sector where pay has failed to keep pace with inflation for many years. Even the government acknowledges that nearly a fifth of all public sector workers (890,000 out of five million) will see their pay increase as a result of the rise in the minimum wage. The CGT points out that this exposes the extent to which public sector pay has fallen behind developments in the minimum wage. The starting point for workers classified as category

The ver.di services union is facing major challenges in the energy sector as companies plan significant restructuring and job cuts. At E.ON around 11000 jobs are on the line and one element of the ver.di response is to work with the Hans Böckler research organisation and draw up alternative plans that focus on making better use of and improving the skills of the workforce particularly in business areas such as renewables in which the company could increase its investment. Meanwhile at Vattenfall, the union organized a demonstration on 5 December in protest at the company’s plans to merge and

Over 6,500 people took part in a major event in Den Bosch on 10 December bringing together trade unionists, political activists, the unemployed and workers in the sheltered employment sector. The anti-austerity event also focused in particular on the government plans to cut 70,000 of the 100,000 jobs in the sheltered employment sector. If the government plans are approved by parliament then this would mean many disabled workers being employed on rates below the national minimum wage. [Read more at > FNV Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/nieuws/nieuws/armoede-werkt-niet-het-is-nog-niet