Germany
Services union ver.di has teamed up with the NGG food and catering union to campaign for the introduction of a statutory minimum wage in Germany. Their initial target is 7.50 euros and hour with the aim of moving gradually to nine euros an hour. A poster publicity campaign got underway earlier this month and the unions have set up a special minimum wage website
Read more at > ver.di
And at > the minimum wage site
On 3 June, the European Commission launched the second-stage consultation on an initiative to deliver fair minimum wages. The deadline for responses is 4 September. In an initial reaction, the ETUC welcomed the greater emphasis on collective bargaining. However, there is no detailed proposal from the Commission. The ETUC has underlined the importance of action on wages, noting the impact of the current crisis and the fact that in several countries wages have yet to recover from the previous crisis. A draft response is due from the ETUC shortly and this will be discussed at an EPSU collective
Services union ver.di is part of a broad group of organisations calling for the minimum wage to be implemented without any exceptions or different rates. Along with trade unions, organisations representing youth, women, environmental groups and churches are arguing for the €8.50 an hour to apply to all workers. They are particularly concerned that those in a vulnerable position in the labour market - young workers and the long-term unemployed - should not face lower minimum rates. Read more at > ver.di (DE)
The VPÖD/SSP public service union is working with other trade unions to win support for a petition calling for a legal minimum wage. The union believes this is an important step to protect the pay of workers and as a way of undermining the case for privatisation. It is currently campaigning with cleaning workers in the Zürich region against plans to privatise the service. The VPÖD/SSP believes that a monthly minimum wage of CHF 4000 (€3,040) would be a major disincentive to privatisation. [Read more at > VPÖD (DE)->http://www.vpod.ch/aktuell/nachrichten/ansicht/article/drg-schulterschluss-von
