Health
EPSU-HOSPEEM Project (2017-2018) on CPD and MSD and PSRS@W
Joint EPSU-HOSPEEM Project “Promoting effective recruitment and retention policies for health workers in the EU by ensuring access to CPD and healthy and safe workplaces supportive of patient safety and quality care” (01.02.2017-31.01.2019)
Hospital employers make unacceptable offer
(April 2017) In the current negotiations in the hospital sector the NVZ employers' organisation has offered a pay rise of 1.5% in 2017 and 1.75% in 2018 but this is seen as unacceptable by the FNV trade union which is looking for 2.5% in each year. The union has warned the employers that they are failing to acknowledge the urgent situation in the sector with many staff overworked, a shortage of specialist workers and many thinking of leaving the sector.
Union welcomes new collective agreement in healthcare
(April 2017) The vpod public services union has welcomed the negotiation of a new collective agreement that covers around 18000 workers employed by health institutions in the Bern region. Nursing staff, doctors as well as catering and cleaning staff will all be covered by the agreement which will come into effect on 1 January 2018. There will be a new pay system and improved paternity and adoption leave in some institutions along with other benefits like additional holidays. The minimum wage in the agreement will be CHFr 4000 (EUR 3750) per month over 12 months although the unions were aiming
Union calls for minimum staffing levels
(April 2017) Services union vida is continuing its campaign to secure federally agreed minimum staffing levels in the health and care sectors. The union took part in a parliamentary hearing on the future of care and said that increasing patient numbers and widespread staffing shortages were creating major problems. Increase workloads were putting pressure on staff who are often stressed and overworked, posing a threat to the quality of care.
Main municipal and welfare agreement extended
(April 2017) Municipal workers' union Kommunal has negotiated a year's extension to the three-year agreement which it negotiated last year with the SKL local government employers' organisation. The agreement provided for additional increases for nursing assistants and nurses as part of a strategy to close the gender pay gap. The basic increases in each of the four years 2016-2019 are SEK 520 (EUR 54), 530 (EUR 55), 535 (EUR 55.5) and 540 (EUR 56) while in the first and second years nursing assistants get 1020 (EUR 105) and 710 (EUR 75) while the third year includes 685 (EUR 70) for nurses. The
Pay deal in public service companies
(April 2017) Workers employed by a range of companies providing private and public services, including health and social care, are set to benefit from a new pay deal negotiated with the Spekter employers' organisation. There will be a basic increase of NOK 975 (EUR 110) a year with an additional NOK 2925 (EUR 320) for employees earning less than NOK 407265 (EUR 44820). In addition to these general increases there will be local pay rises that will be negotiated in the weeks up to the beginning of May.
European Action Day against privatisation, marketisation and commercialisation in the Health and Social Care Sectors on World Health Day
EPSU and its affiliates took part in a series of activities in support of the 2nd European Action Day against privatisation, marketisation and commercialisation within the health and social care sectors.
European Action Day Against the Commercialisation, Marketisation and Privatisation of Health Care - 07.04.2017
EPSU will be involved in activities for the 2nd European Action Day against the impacts of privatisation, marketisation and commercialisation of health and social care on 7 April.
Higher pay scales for public sector workers
(April 2017) All public service workers on less than €65000 a year benefit from higher pay scales as of 1 April. The €1000 increase has been brought forward and has been implemented as part of the restoration of pay cuts that were implemented from 2009. Next month a public service pay commission is due to report and then pay negotiations will begin which will include further steps to restore the pay cuts.
Health unions attack 1% cap on pay increases
(April 2017) Health sector trade unions have attacked the latest pay increase proposal from the government appointed body that recommends pay awards - the NHS Pay Review Body. This marks the sixth year running that health sector pay rises have fallen behind inflation and unions are warning of the impact on recruitment and retention of healthworkers.
Negotiating successes for ver.di in health and social care
(April 2017) Services union ver.di has signed a key agreement in Bremen that covers around 3200 eldercare workers employed by several non-profit care providers. The union sees this is as a significant step towards better collective bargaining coverage in the sector and helps remove pay and conditions as a factor in competition. Meanwhile the union has also negotiated two new agreements in the health sector, one provides a 7,3% pay increase for 3900 workers at the University Hospital in Leipzig and the other is a 5.1% pay increase for the 24000 employees in 36 hospitals run by the Helios
Unions sign landmark deal to tackle precarious employment
(April 2017) Public sector trade union federations have signed an historic agreement with the government that will see a massive reduction in precarious employment across the public sector. The deal means that over 300000 workers currently on some form of fixed-term employment will have the chance to move onto a permanent contract over the next three years. This is the result of the first major negotiations with the government since 2010. The unions underlined that they are still looking for an agreement on pay increases over the coming years that will compensate for the 15% loss of purchasing
Health union in protest to support negotiations
(April 2016) The FSSHK health union organised protests at health institutions around the country on 31 March in order to put pressure on the employers with negotiations stalled. The union is campainging for a pay rise, better working conditions as well as an increase in staffing.