02 epsucob@NEWS January 2009

The first round of negotiations between unions and regional government employers failed to bring any significant process. The two sides were left some way apart according to ver.di general secretary Frank Bsirske. Ver.di have called for an 8% increase for the 700,000 workers in regional government with a minimum increase of €200 a month. The union also wants to see trainees get an extra €120 a month as well as a guarantee of employment after training. Ver.di is looking to ensure that regional government employees’ catches up with pay levels in local and central government. It also wants to

The three main local government unions – UNISON, GMB and Unite – have submitted their pay claim for 2009-2010. They want a pay increase that compensates for inflation with higher increases for the lower paid. The unions want a 12-month agreement and are not looking for any other changes in terms and conditions. A detailed document supporting the claim has been published. It compares pay rates in local government with pay in the rest of the public sector and with similar jobs in the private sector. The report also looks at minimum pay and shows that the lowest pay rate in local government is

A new publication from the ETUI-REHS research organisation analyses of wage developments and wage bargaining practices since the mid-1990s in 17 European countries. The introduction provides an overview of some of the main trends across Europe with a focus on wage moderation, the minimum wage and the decentralisation of collective bargaining. The country chapters provide a detailed overview of wage developments, also in relation to productivity, low pay and the minimum wage, and gender and sectoral wage differences. They also discuss developments concerning bargaining levels and the bargaining

Public service union Abvakabo has called for a 3.5% pay increase for the 500,000 workers employed in health and social care and covered by three collective agreements – hospitals, mental health and disabled care. The union argues that the sector is being affected by demographic change with staff shortages at the same time as there is an increasing demand from an ageing population, with the numbers in care likely to rise by 50% to 1.5 million over the next 15 years. As part of the claim the union also wants a 13th month payment. [Read more at > ABVAKABO (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/cao

Police in Latvia estimated that 10,000 people joined the demonstration earlier this month against government economic policies making it the biggest since the country’s independence in 1991. Public sector trade unions supported the march and the ETUC called for a new social deal across Europe that would provide an alternative to the neo-liberal policies being proposed by governments in Latvia and Lithuania. The ETUC wants to see more of a focus on decent work rather than policies that resort to cuts in pay and reliance on precarious employment. [Read more at > Associated Press (EN)->http://www

The GPA-DJP and GMTN unions representing workers in private electricity companies have said that the employers’ initial pay offer of just over 3% was completely inadequate bearing in mind recent pay settlements. The employers focused on the current economic climate but the unions reminded them of the substantial profits that electricity companies have made in recent years. The unions will not resume negotiations until 29 January in order to convene a meeting of works council chairs on 26 January to discuss negotiating tactics. The employers also want to negotiate over working time flexibility

The VPOD public service union is in dispute with transport employers in Basel and Zürich. In Basel the employers have unilaterally changed services without consultation leading to a worsening of conditions, particularly for shift workers. There is also a dispute over breaks with VPOD arguing that the employers don’t even provide for the minimum legal break entitlement and are now looking to cut breaks further. In Basel the union has pledged to use all legal means available to stop the employer from cutting a driving allowance that was introduced 40 years ago for drivers working on their own

Services union ver.di is negotiating with public sector employers over pay rates for childcare and other workers in education and social services workers. Currently childcare employees are in pay grade six which means that they have a starting salary of €2,130 a month. Ver.di argues that this pay level fails to reflect the increased responsibility and workload for these workers and that they should be moved up to pay level 9 with salaries of between €2,237 and €3,423 a month. The union also wants to see better safety provisions covering these workers and those working with the disabled. The

The Impact public service union has reacted strongly to suggestions from the IBEC private employers’ organisation that public sector pensions should be cut back. Impact argues that the employers are using the economic crisis to launch another attack on public sector workers and that they overstate the level of pension that most public servants are likely to get at retirement. The union also responded by highlighting the fact that employers benefit from low levels of tax and social security contributions. [Read more at > Impact (EN)->http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id

Members of the CGIL confederation’s metalworking and public service sections will be taking strike action on 13 February. The two federations are coming together in protest at a range of government policies that are attacking public sector workers, public services and undermining progress towards equality not just between men and women workers but also between domestic and migrant workers. The federations also argue that government policies are weakening workers’ rights in both public and private sectors. [Read more at > FP CGIL (IT)->http://www.fpcgil.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT