18 epsucob@NEWS September 2009
Public sector unions plan general strike on 5 October
Public sector unions have called for a strike on 5 October in protest at the government’s plans to impose a new pay structure. The changes in pay have been proposed as part of a loan package with the International Monetary Fund and European Commission. The unions argue that groups of workers will be left worse off by the changes but that they will call of f the strike if the government agrees to negotiate over reforms to the pay system. Read more at > Balkans news website (EN)
Strike called off as energy union talks to government
After a warning strike on 24 August the SDE energy union has managed to secure talks with the government over plans to unbundle of the Slovenian electricity network from the retail business. A strike planned for 14 September has been called following the government’s agreement to have a proper process of social dialogue over the changes. Read more at > EPSU (EN)
Energy workers strike over job losses
Workers at the National Grid in Newcastle took strike action on 11 September in protest at the company’s plans to close the site and transfer work overseas. The action may spread to other sites that are affected by the company’s restructuring proposals. Read more at > UNISON (EN) And at > GMB (EN) And at > the unions’ campaign website (EN)
Unions predict challenging pay round
The GDG local government union and other trade unions are preparing for difficult negotiations in the coming pay round as employers continue to talk about freezing pay. The unions reaffirm the importance of maintaining living standards and warn of the risks of a deflationary spiral if workers are denied a pay increase. They also point out that they have history of responsible negotiations where they aim to protect workers’ earnings while maintaining employers’ competitiveness. The unions have set up an online calculator so union members can work out the impact of a pay freeze in the longer
Unions will mobilise again for 7 October
Six unions and union confederations have again agreed to co-ordinate their campaigning and mobilise for 7 October to maintain their protests against government policy and in support of pay and proper collective bargaining in the public sector. The CGT, CFDT, CFE-CGC, FSU, UNSA and Solidaires are backing the action which will coincide with the World Day for Decent Work which is again being co-ordinated by the International Trade Union Confederation. Read more at > CGT (FR)
No pay freeze for public sector workers
At a meeting with the three main public service unions – CCOO, UGT and CSI-CSIF – the government has confirmed that pay developments in the public sector over the next three years will maintain the purchasing power of the 2.5 million workers covered by the central negotiations. Unions had been concerned about the possibility of the government imposing a pay freeze and are still worried about job cuts, urging the government to maintain staffing levels in order to ensure quality services. [Read more at > FSC-CCOO (ES)-> http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Inicio:64013] [Read more at FSP-UGT
Survey reveals sharp drop in real wage trend
The annual analysis of pay trends by the EIRO industrial relations observatory found that the average collectively agreed nominal wage increase across the EU fell from 7% in 2007 to 6.6% in 2008. Taking into account inflation, the rate of real pay increase across the EU fell sharply, from 3.6% in 2007 to 1.3% in 2008. The survey also focuses on local government and found the range of nominal pay rises in 2007 was between 18.2% in Romania and zero in Belgium, Cyprus, Italy and Poland. In 2008, Poland recorded the highest increase (set by government decree rather than collective agreement), at
Unions step up minimum wage campaigning
The DGB union confederation along with the ver.di services union is making sure that the demand for a national minimum wage remains a key issue as the general election approaches. The unions have their own minimum wage website as well as a new website that makes it easy for people to contact leading politicians who are opposed to the introduction of a legal minimum wage. Read more at > union minimum wage website (DE) And at > poverty wage party website (DE)
Agreement delivers more full-time jobs
The FOA public services union has welcomed the fact that as a result of an agreement negotiated in 2007 more full-time jobs have been made available for part-time workers. The union says that some 2,300 health and social workers have moved from part-time to full-time work. The FOA is urging municipal and regional authorities to do more to encourage the move the full-time hours where employees want to do so. Read more at > FOA (DK)
Employers make concessions after "final" offer
After union members in the waste and environment sector overwhelmingly rejected the employers’ “final” offer of a 1% pay increase, a further improved offer was made. The 1% pay increase backdated to 1 June will stand but a further increase will be paid if inflation rises above 1% at the end of the year. Abvakabo had indicated that it was willing to be flexible on pay if the employers would make some guarantees on jobs and discussions on employment in the sector are continuing. [Read more at > Abvakabo (NL)->http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/cao/bericht/eindbod_cao_akkoord_afval_milieu_aangepast/]
Decent work and responding to the crisis
EPSU’s collective bargaining and social dialogue conference this year will feature debates on decent work and how unions have been negotiating in the fact of the economic and financial crisis. Workshop discussions will cover lifelong learning, precarious employment and the impact of the recession on women workers. Information is available on the EPSU website in 10 languages. Read more at > EPSU
Wages in decline in Baltic states
The latest official statistics show the impact of the recession in the Baltic states. In Latvia average wages fell by 1.8% but the fall was much sharper in the public sector (-9.5%) where a cut in salary is part of a government deal with the International Monetary Fund. In Lithuania national average earnings were down by 0.9% although the fall in public sector earnings was lower (-0.1%) than in the private sector. In Estonia average earnings fell by 4.4% according to the latest figures, the first fall in 16 years. [Read more at < Latvia statistics (EN)->http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?cat
Municipal union argues for higher pay for "women's" jobs
Local government union Kommunal believes that the approach of unions in the LO confederation in 2007 to negotiate higher pay increases for jobs where women make up the majority of workers has contributed to closing the gender pay gap. The union argues that it is unacceptable that “women’s” jobs are undervalued and believes there is still a long way to go to close the gap. Read more at > Kommunal (SE)
Unions mobilise to get action on private health collective agreement
During September the three public service federations are mobilising their members in another push to renegotiate the collective agreement covering the private health sector. The unions will make this a public campaign highlighting the connection between quality services and treating workers with respect – pay and conditions in the sector should have been renegotiated in a new collective agreement four years ago. Unions want the employers to make a public commitment to renegotiate the contract and have called on the public authorities to put pressure on them as well. [Read more at > FP CGIL
Employees of Zürich canton demonstrate over changes to pay
The VPOD public service trade union joined other unions in a demonstration on 10 September in protest at the proposals by the Zürich canton to make changes to the wage system covering employees in the regional authority, local health service and university. The changes would mean no general pay increases but only bonuses for individuals. The unions believe this will lead to greater inequality. Read more at > VPOD (DE)
Union members agree local government pay deal
Members of the three local government unions, UNISON, GMB and Unite, have voted to accept a 1% pay increase for 2009 (backdated to 1 April) with lower paid workers getting 1.5% (those earning less than £7.10 (€8.12) an hour/£13,336 (€15,247) a year). Workers will get an extra day of paid leave and the employers are committed to negotiating a new national redundancy scheme by 1 December. Read more at > UNISON (EN) And at > GMB (EN)
Union attacks EDF for allowing sub-contractors to sack workers
The CGT has criticised the EDF energy company and its eRDF subsidiary for failing to support workers who were dismissed when a meter-reading was awarded to a new company. The new contractor also refused to abide by an employment tribunal decision that the workers should be reinstated. The union accused EDF of failing to comply with its own social responsibility code on sub-contractors and undermining its own claims to be supporting employment during the crisis. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)
Employers fail to invest in workers' well-being
A research project that assessed employers’ spending on workers’ well-being argues that the current level of spending each year (€1.9 billion) was dwarfed by the €23 billion cost of disability pensions and sickness absence. The research covered both public and private sectors and looked at employer spending on wellbeing in terms of training, health, recreational and cultural activities etc. The researchers argue that investment in workers’ wellbeing can deliver a threefold return by cutting disability and sickness costs. [Read more at > union news (EN)->http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2009
Survey reveals inadequate level of supervision in social services
A survey by the VIDA services union of members working in social services found 78% working part time, rising to 98% among home helps. One of the main issues identified by the survey was the poor level of supervision in the sector leading to the fact that employers are not fully aware of the work pressures facing employees. Read more at > VIDA (DE)
Unions reject prison restructuring plans
Public service unions Abvakabo, BPSAG and CNV Publieke Zaak have rejected the Ministry of Justice’s five-plan for the prison service. The plan includes proposals to cut 1200 jobs and close a number of institutions across the country. The unions have called for major changes to the plans including clear commitments about how to deal with the impact of staff of any restructuring. The unions point out that the prison service needs well-trained staff and the five-year plan needs to be clear how to ensure employment levels and expertise will be maintained. [Read more at > Abvakabo (NL)->http://www
Energy sector dispute settled
Unions in the energy sector have managed to secure a change in the way that local pay increases are allocated. Several unions have argued that the local additions should be flat rates rather than percentage increases that benefit the higher paid more. A settlement was reached with the aid of the mediation office and a general increase of 925 Krone (€107) applies from 1 July. A committee has also been established to look at how the local wage negotiations will work in future. Read more at > ELOGIT (NO)