07 epsucob@NEWS April 2009

Following the successful national mobilisation on 29 January and the even larger turnout in protests and strikes on 19 March, the eight main national trade union confederations have issued another joint call for nationwide demonstrations on 1 May. They are also calling on their member organisations to mobilise throughout April in preparation for the 1 May events. The unions continue to call for increases to public sector pay and an end to government policies that are increasing precarious employment in the public sector and cutting funding that is undermining service quality. [Read more at >

National negotiations between trade unions, employers and the government are set to continue despite bitter union disappointment over the government’s budget. Unions argue that the government has failed to take any measures to protect jobs or boost provision of training while implementing social welfare cuts and imposing levies that will affect even those paid the minimum wage. The unions will try to get some movement from the government on jobs following a decision by the finance ministry to freeze public sector recruitment. [Read more at > IMPACT (EN)->http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/newsdesk

The ver.di public services union is campaigning for a major re-grading of the mainly women workers employed in various social, welfare and educational occupations. The union argues that these workers’ occupations have not only been undervalued but their responsibilities and the pressure of work have increased considerably in recent years. In the second round of negotiations on 30 March employer proposals for re-grading were rejected as an outrageous provocation by ver.di which has launched a special website to argue the case for the re-gradings. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://presse.verdi

Abvakabo wants a collective agreement covering workplace safety for the entire public sector. This was part of the union's demands in a manifesto against aggression and violence, which it presented to the minister of internal affairs on 6 April, the national day against violence and aggression. In a survey of over 1000 employees the union found that 62% thought that violence in the workplace was more widespread and 43% said that employers weren't doing enough about the problem. Abvakabo organised 20 meetings in hospitals and town halls around the country on 6 April to highlight the need for

The CMKOS trade union confederation has attacked proposals for major changes to the Czech labour code. The plans were announced in March before the collapse of the government and the confederation argues that this means that there is now no mandate for the changes. The reforms focus on creating a more flexible labour market that would make it easier for employers to dismiss employees and to make greater use of fixed-term workers. If implemented the changes would also undermine collective bargaining and the rights of trade unions at the workplace. [Read more at > CMKOS (EN)->http://www.cmkos.cz

The Romanian government has signed a loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund and European Union that will mean substantial cuts in public spending, cuts in public sector jobs and a freeze on pay. Our regional officer in Romania reports that the IMF has asked the Romanian government to freeze the public sector pay bill and allocate the additional income exclusively to investments. Over the next four years, the pay bill, which has more than doubled in the last three years, must be gradually reduced from 8% to 5% of GDP. The IMF requires that the cut in the pay bill is proportional to

The CSC public service federation has criticised a decision by the Council of Ministers to allow for the recruitment of contractual and agency workers to parts of the federal civil service. The union argues that there should have been a proper process of negotiation over the proposal to appoint contractual workers migration issues. The union thinks the government is using the pretence of categorising certain issues, such as migration, as “auxiliary” matters so that it can appoint contractual staff rather than statutory civil servants. The CSC also argues that the Ministry of Justice’s plan to

The GPA-DJP and VIDA trade unions have organised a week of action (14-17 April) calling for increased funding of health and social care, including better pay and conditions for workers in the sector, along with creation of more jobs. The unions argue that the 200,000 mainly women workers in the sector do not get enough recognition for the work they do and the stress and strains of their jobs. [Read more at > VIDA (DE)->http://www.vida.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=S03/Page/Index&n=S03_0.a&cid=1238488042255] [And at > GPA-DJP (DE)->http://www.gpa-djp.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GPA

The FSC-CCOO, FSP-UGT and CSI-CSIF public service federations are mobilising for protests on 15 April, demanding action from the government on the basic statute on public sector employment. The law was passed in 2007 but the unions claim that since then the government has done nothing to implement its provisions that should have created a more homogenous system of public service across the state administration and the autonomous regions and dealt with specific issues such as lifelong learning. The unions say that two years is too long to wait for action on this and that the crisis should not

In March the STAL local government union signed two new agreements with local fire associations in Vila de Rei and Covilhã. The agreement with the Vila de Rei association includes a pay structure setting down rates for shift work and for working on rest days and holidays. It also includes a new career framework. A range of other provisions cover other allowances and annual paid leave of 25 days. The Covilhã agreement also sets out the main working conditions for firefighters in terms of careers, shift systems, allowances for travel and holidays. In addition there was a €74 increase on pay. The

Over 100 ambulance workers in 35 vehicles took part in a demonstration in the Hague over the future of the sector. From 2011 ambulance services will be provided on a regional basis and employers will have to apply for licences to provide services. The four trade unions in the sector are worried about the implications for the collective agreement, employment security and quality of services. The demonstrators handed in a petition to the employers signed by 1200 employees - just over a third of the total of 3500 in the sector. Talks between unions and employers over the new arrangements will