Collective Bargaining

The Inclusive Workplace Agreement (IA) was renegotiated and changed and will now be available to all companies. The country first implemented the IA 17 years ago when sick leave levels began to rise sharply. The IA initially had three main goals: 1. a 20 % cut in sick leave 2. helping more people with various handicaps enter the labour market and 3. help the over-50 extend their work activity by one year. Companies that signed IA agreements with the welfare administration would be given new tools to help them reach these aims. Researched showed that some of these goals were conflicting. For example by hiring more people with a handicap sick levels also rise. The new agreement, that is valid until 2022, therefore only focusses on reducing the sick leave levels with 10% compared to 2018.

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According to new data from Statistics Estonia unemployment continued to fall over the past ten years, with long-term unemployment at a 20-year low. With an average of 5% in most age groups, unemployment in the country lies below the EU average unemployment rate of 7%. However, the number of underemployed workers- people who work part-time but want to work more hours- has increased. Part-time work is also on the rise with a record high at 82,000 part-time workers in 2018.

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In the most recent round of negotiations a new collective agreement for commercial publishing industry workers was agreed that includes a pay rise of 2.6% from 1 January 2019 onwards. This means that salaries will increase with at least 50 euros a month, salaries will be rounded up to full euro amounts. Existing overpayments remain upright. The apprenticeship allowances will be raised to 600 euro in the first year of apprenticeship and to 750 euro a month in the second year of apprenticeship.

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An agreement was reached after 202 strike days at the Reha-Klinik in Bad Langensalza (Thüringen). Trade union Verdi and private investor Celenus came to an understanding after months of strike and lock-out although the union was not really satisfied with the reached 1.5 to 2.25% wage raise.

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The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs proposes an increase in old-age pensions. The system is already regarded by experts as one of the most solidarity based in Europe. The minister also announced legislation aimed at delivering affordable housing because even the middle classes find it hard to rent houses at present.

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The Seafarers’ Union began pay negotiations for the new collective agreement earlier this month. The new agreement is to be valid for two years. The union demands a pay rise of 2.5% for this year and another 2.5% next year. The seafarers now threaten that if payment demands are not met, they will engage in industrial action. Such a strike action would be stopping all passenger and cargo vessels, including ice-breakers.

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Deliveroo riders from Manchester went on a 4-hour strike today protest against cuts to pay and poor working conditions. Similar protests were also held on Thursday in Bristol and Bournemouth. The Deliveroo riders are demanding a minimum payment of 5 pounds per delivery and 8 pounds for a double order, a 1 pound payment for every additional mile travelled no deliveries outside Manchester city centre and for motorbike riders to be given the same access to orders as cyclists. The riders state that they need this money to cover the cost of living and to provide for accidents and illnesses. IWW Global Union that represents the drivers says that riders around the UK have seen their pay cut in recent months and are increasingly being forced to deliver outside of zones for even less money.

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The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warns that jobs in the country are more vulnerable towards technological changes, such as the further developments in robotisation, than anywhere else in the OECD. Because the economy concentrates on low-added value some 70% of the jobs can be jeopardized. The only way to oppose this development is by better education and an upscaling of the labour market. In recent times only 2.3% of GDP was spent on science and research, which is considered to be too little.

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The cleaning staff of the public toilets of the City of Geneva together with their union SIT organised strike actions throughout the city. They say that management fails to answers various problems that they experience during their work. The demands of the strikers are as follows: the withdrawal of an unfair dismissal of a unionized colleague, a halt to the flexibilisation of working hours with respect of the working schedules and the Labour Act, a stop to wage cuts via the decrease of working time, to be obliged to work every Sunday and the companies compliance with the law on occupational benefits.

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ILO published a report on occupational safety and health and in the countries’ construction sector. The report provides a comprehensive review of the current occupational safety and health (OSH) situation in the construction industry in the country by assessing gaps in the national OSH system and identifying priority areas for national OSH policies and programmes. Main conclusions are that the country has a comprehensive legislation on OHS in the construction sector however the problem is its enforcement, labour inspection at constructions sites should be improved and that the knowledge on OSH amongst both workers and employers should be improved.

Read on: in English … The report: in English …