Demonstration calls for measures to tackle low pay, unemployment and poverty
EPSU affiliates in Lithuania are mobilizing for a demonstration on 10 December with a series of key demands to put to the government. These include: increases to minimum wage and basic salaries of public sector workers, job creation proposals, a shift towards progressive taxation, to ensure trade union rights and a budget that tackles unemployment and poverty.
Unions come together in mass protest over austerity measures
The four main Lithuanian trade union centres – Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, Lithuanian Labor Federation, Lithuanian Trade Union „Solidarumas“ and Lithuanian Journalists’ Union – organized a national demonstration on 19 March calling for a higher minimum wage, more progressive taxes, and increases to pensions. Over 2,500 people joined the March including a delegation of 50 from the Lithuanian Energy Workers’ Trade Union Federation. Read more at > LDF (EN)
Further demonstrations on public sector pay
Police, firefighters and border guards joined forces to protest over public sector pay cuts in front of government buildings on 2 April while several other demonstrations took place outside the capital. The workers plan to mobilise again on 25 April if the government fails to respond. Read more at > Top News (EN)
Unions protest over Lithuanian government response to crisis
Public sector unions joined other trade unions and opposition parties in a major demonstration earlier this month in protest at the economic policies of the Lithuanian and Latvian governments. Reports indicate, for example that the Lithuanian government is planning a 15% in the public sector wage bill. EPSU and the ETUC sent messages of support to local trade unions. Read more at > EU Observer (EN) And at > EPSU (EN)
Survey indicates no progress on gender pay gap
A survey by the National Student Agency finds that the gender pay in Lithuania is 18% with no sign that it is closing. The survey also looked at the pay gap in different age groups, with women aged 50-59 earning on average 30% less than men. Read more at > LRT news (EN)
EPSU affiliates join national demonstration over pay
At the end of November the three Lithuanian trade union confederations came together to organise a major demonstration over pay. The unions called for an significant increase in the national minimum wage (NMW) and for the government to adopt a target for the NMW to be increased to the equivalent of 60% of national average wages. Read more at > LDF (EN)
Double-digit rise in state employees’ basic pay
Pressure from EPSU affiliate, the Lithuanian Trade Unions of State Employees, has led to a new law implementing an increase in the base salary from 442 litas (€128) to 490 litas (€142). This is an increase of just under 11%.
Concerns over pay boost civil service unions
Discontent over pay in the civil service has led to the setting up of new trade unions and an increase in membership of existing public sector unions, according to the EIRO industrial relations observatory. Civil servants are not covered by collective bargaining and salaries have been falling behind those in other sectors. Unions were also disappointed that a court ruling over pay determination went against them. Read more at > EIRO (EN)
Social partners look to boost sectoral social dialogue
According to the EIRO industrial relations observatory, the two main social partners in Lithuania, the LSPK union federation and LPK employers’ federation are working to extend sectoral social dialogue across the public and private sectors. It is hoped that this will also have an impact on collective bargaining and increase the extent to which collective agreements are signed across different sectors. Read more at > EIRO (EN)
Unions coordinate action over minimum wages and working hours
Lithuanian trade unions rallied together on 10 November to protest against low wages and long working hours. The three EPSU affiliates received a very encouraging turn out, and also were endorsed by numerous messages of support from fellow national unions and international trade union federations. They called on the Lithuanian Government to recognise that as part of the package of being a successful member of the European Union, they needed to enact policy that would bring the country into line with the living standards in other parts of the EU. In particular the Unions demanded that as a first step towards decent incomes for all, the Government should set a preliminary target for the minimum wage at 50 % of the average wage. Read more at > EPSU (EN) And at > EPSU (EN)
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