2014 April epsucob@NEWS 07
Warning strikes help deliver positive result on pay
Following a series of warning strikes in the lead up to the third round of negotiations public services union ver.di was able to secure a positive result for the 2.1 million workers employed by the federal and local authorities. The agreement includes a 3% increase for 2014 but with a minimum amount of €90 and so benefiting lower paid workers in particular. All workers will also now have a minimum of 30 days' annual leave. There will be a further pay increase of 2.4% from 1 March 2015. Ver.di says that this is one of the best deals secured in the current bargaining round in Germany. [Read more
Strike action over job cuts and austerity
EPSU solidarity ADEDYThe ADEDY civil service confederation organised a public sector wide strike on 9 April against the government's continuing austerity measures and in particular legislation to implement further job cuts. EPSU sent a solidarity message. Read more at > ADEDY (GR) And at > press tv website (EN)
Union calls national demonstration for 9 May
The STAL local government union has called a national demonstration on 9 May in protest against the government's continuing austerity measures. One of the union's main demands is for the government to recognise the 300+ agreements that have been negotiated with local authorities to retain the 35-hour week. The union has been signing the agreements following the government's decision to impose a 40-hour week (a five-hour increase) across the public sector.The union is also calling for the restoration of pay cuts and respect for collective bargaining. [Read more at > STAL (PT)->http://www.stal
Waste workers strike over pay, hours and retirement
Waste workers organised by the CGT trade union in both the public and private sectors will be taking strike action on 12 May. The union is campaigning for a recognition of the arduous nature of the work, noting that waste workers have one of the lowest life expectancies of any group of workers. The demands include the right to early retirement, a shorter working week and a monthly salary of €1700, equivalent to the CGT's demands for the statutory minimum wage. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Unions threaten to strike over Red Cross restructuring
The four unions that organise workers in the Red Cross - Fp-Cgil, Cisl-Fp, Uil-Pa and Fialp-Cisal - have called for urgent clarification from the Ministry of Health over the impact on jobs, pay and employment conditions of the changes being made to the legal status of the organisation. The unions have already mobilised on 31 March and 4 April but following these actions there have been contradictory messages from the health ministry about guarantees for the 4000 workers (including 1500 temporary workers) who are affected by the changes. The four unions have threatened strike action if they don
Federation launches decent pay campaign
The FSP-UGT public services federation has launched a campaign on public sector pay to begin to address the estimated loss of 25% in purchasing power since the first pay cuts were imposed in 2010 and in the view of the continuing freeze on pay foreseen for the current year. The union points out that the pay cuts have coincided with a 500000 job cuts across the public sector and a further 400000 job cuts expected to result from the reform of local government. The FSP-UGT also highlights the scale of outsourcing with €5.8 bn spent on contracts with private companies. The federation is making the
University cleaners strike over employment conditions
Members of UNISON working for the ISS multinational have taken strike action three times in a campaign to secure improved employment conditions. The workers are cleaners employed on an ISS contract with the School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in central London. UNISON has been negotiating with ISS to try to get the same benefits as other staff employed at SOAS but so far ISS has refused any improvements and the workers are stuck on statutory minimum entitlements for sick leave, annual leave and other benefits. [Read more at > UNISON->http://www.unison.org.uk/news/soas-cleaners
ETUC says posted workers still need more protection
The latest stage in the long-running process of introducing an Enforcement Directive to strengthen implementation of the rights of posted workers has seen the European Parliament agree a draft that falls short of the measures called for by the ETUC. While the proposed legislation includes elements that might help clamp down on bogus self-employment and letterbox companies, the ETUC is concerned that requirements for "proportionate" action might undermine some of the stronger measures being taken by individual member states. The Enforcement Directive still needs to be approved by the European
More needed than just platform on undeclared work
In response to the widespread problem of undeclared work, the European Commission is planning to set up a new EU Platform to bring together all the various national enforcement bodies that are trying to tackle the issue - in particular, labour inspectorates, social security, and tax authorities - along with social partners. The Commission says that the platform will provide a forum for experts to meet and exchange best practices, develop their knowledge of undeclared work and even engage in operational cooperation. While welcoming the initiative, EPSU points out that austerity, that limits
Union calls for negotiations over reforms
In response to the latest report from the Commission for Reform of the Public Administration, the CCOO confederation has criticised the government for failure to consult or negotiate over any of the issues being dealt with by the Commission. The Commission was set up at the end of 2012 to examine how to streamline administrative procedures and create more "efficient" public service. The union argues that many of the proposals included in the report have serious implications for the rights and working conditions of public sector workers but none have been discussed with the trade unions. [Read
Public sector day of action: 15 May
Eight trade union organisations in the public sector - CFDT, CFTC, CGT, FA-FP, FSU, SOLIDAIRES, FO and UNSA - are calling on their members to join a day of action, including demonstrations and strikes, on 15 May in protest at the government's failure to undertake meaningful negotiations on pay. The day of action will cover the three main pillars of the public sector - central and local government and hospitals. The unions are maintaining their calls for an increase in the pay index to take account of loss in purchasing power and a revision of the pay structure. [Read more at > CGT (FR)->http:/
ITUC protests over proposed strike law changes
The International Trade Union Confederation has written a letter of protest to the speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament over plans to restrict the right to strike. If the legislation is enacted then strikes in strategic enterprises could be deemed illegal and trade unions subject to criminal charges. Read more at > ITUC (EN)
Care workers continue their action over pay and conditions
Some 150 care workers in Doncaster in the north of England are continuing to take industrial action to try to prevent their employer, Care UK, from cutting their pay by as much as 50%. The workers are determined to retain their National Health Service pay and conditions and have already taken three weeks of strike action over a prolonged period. Public services UNISON sees this as an important campaign and is calling on all its branches across the country to provide support for the strikers. Read more at > UNISON
Employment questions arise in welfare restructuring plans
The JHL trade union has welcomed the principle of a planned restructuring of health and social services but warns of the consequences for care and employees' jobs and pay and conditions. If the plans to create five regional providers goes ahead then many municipal workers may see a change of employer. The union says that those currently employed by municipalities now have five year protection against dismissal should municipalities opt to merge, a rule which JHL wants included in the new legislation. Read more at > JHL (EN)
New two-year agreement in voluntary sector
The Kommunal municipal union has negotiated a new two-year collective agreement with the Arbetsgivaralliansen employers' organisation in health and social care. The organisation has around 3000 members employing some 250000 people. The agreement runs from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2016. The pay increase was negotiated as a flat-rate amount so as not to increase the gap between male-and female -dominated industries. Salaries will be increased by SEK 550 (€60.5) from 1 April 2014 and SEK 600 (€66) from 1 April 2015. Minimum wages will be increased by the same amount and will mean SEK 19720 (€2170
Directive provides for increased mobility of pension rights
The new directive on supplementary pension rights should allow workers moving across borders more possibilities to take their pension entitlement with them. The Directive includes provisions on guarantees (vesting rights) which should be granted at the latest after three years of employment and with a minimum age of no more than 21 years. The rights of workers who leave an employer-run pension scheme before retirement must be preserved and treated fairly compared to the rights of those workers who remain in the scheme, for example as regards indexation. Workers will also have the right to know
Wage cutting care company goes bust
Jobs and the care of elderly people were put at risk following the bankruptcy of the Kære Pleje private care company. Around 100 employees were affected and 500 elderly people and it was left to the municipality in Kolding in southern Denmark to sort out care provision at very short notice. The FOA trade union reports an increasing number of bankruptcies in the care sector leaving local authorities to deal with the consequences. The Kære Pleje company had already created controversy when it terminated the agreement with FOA and announced pay cuts for employees in connection with winning the