Collective Bargaining

In September 2018 construction workers at Istanbul airport went on strike because they did not receive their wages and to protest unsafe working conditions due to which some workers had died. In response to the industrial action, hundreds of workers were accused of violating the law on meetings and demonstrations and were arrested (see our September and October newsletter). While the labour ministry claimed that 27 workers had died on the site, official data disclosed by Turkey’s Presidential Communications Centre (CİMER) show that the real figure is much higher. 52 workers have died while building the new Istanbul airport. After having been imprisoned for more than two months, on 5 December 2018 at the first hearing of their trial, the imprisoned workers were finally released.

Read on: in English … Read on: in English (2) …

The government wants to force municipalities and regions to outsource more of their tasks to the private market, for example, childcare and care for the elderly. A new study shows that the government's line has little support from the population. Only 20% of the respondents agreed with the statement that the outsourcing of public services to the private market should be forced upon municipalities and regions. Furthermore, two third of the respondents believes proper wage and work conditions are crucial if public tasks are to be outsourced. This in line with the stance of the trade union that emphasizes that the outsourcing of public services may not have a negative influence on the quality of the services or the employment conditions of the people performing the work.

Read on: in Danish …

After the yellow vests, it's now the turn of the blue vests to show their anger as police unions are calling on officers to picket to partake in industrial action and only answer emergency calls as they fight for better working conditions and pay. Negotiations between police unions and the Interior Minister failed to find a solution and come to an agreement that is satisfactory for the police workforce. Police are under high pressure with ongoing protests against the government. Government officials promised to pay an additional 300 euro to all those officers who were deployed for the "yellow vest" protests. I's unclear whether this will be enough to take the angle out of the protest.

Read on: in English …

The teachers strike has entered its fourth week and is causing distress amongst government. Amidst the strike, that revolves around a newly introduced pay system, parliament voted in favour of an amendment to the recently introduced pay system. However, a spokesperson of the education union stated that the adopted amendments are not a sufficient reason for the ongoing teachers' strike to be stopped. In the meantime, the number of teachers on strike is said to be declining with currently around 200 people, or 0.4% of all teachers on strike. In early December 2018 almost 1400 were on strike.

Read on: in English … Read on: in English …

The Teacher Union of Serbia (TUS) and union NTTU organised a one-day strike to protest wage increases that are more than 5% lower than was promised. The teachers were promised a 14.67% wage increase but only got a 9% increase. Preschool teachers did only get 7% wage increase which according to the TUS implies a discriminative approach in education.

Read on: in English …

Amidst the busy Christmas period, workers at two Amazon distribution centres in the country have gone on strike as part of a push for improved work conditions that is already going on for five years. Trade union Verdi, that is representing the workers, says Amazon employees receive lower wages than others in retail and mail-order jobs in Germany. Verdi has been calling on Amazon to changes its rules to allow a legally binding collective bargaining agreement for the company’s approximately 16,000 German employees which it believes would guarantee better working conditions. The union is seeking an agreement similar to that available for retail workers and other mail order companies.

Read on: in English …

When platform workers are getting organised they do not always do this through a traditional trade union. While traditional trade unions are increasingly focussing on organising platform workers platform workers are also organising themselves in more creative ways. Recent research from the European Trade Union Institute indicates that digital platforms have also become sites experimentation in the labour movement with grassroots independent unions becoming more prominent, particularly in the on-demand transport and food sectors of the platform economy. The Fairwork Foundation estimates there are currently over seven million digital platform workers across the world.

Read on: in English …

According to a survey carried out by trade union confederation SAK and the Industrial Union people are not positive about the new unemployment system that was implemented by the government. The new model is designed to activate job seekers by demanding that in the first three-month review period, unemployed jobseekers become an entrepreneur, work for at least 18 hours or sign-up for activities such as training. When these requirements are not met the benefits are cut. The survey, in which 6000 trade union members took part, reveals that it can be very difficult for unemployed job seekers to meet this requirements. Especially for people that live in rural areas with lack of job opportunities and elderly job seekers it is difficult to find work. The trade union confederation urges the government to change their unemployment benefit system.

Read on: in English …

Construction workers want a full implementation of their collective agreement which would include restoration of previously cut salaries and benefits and are ready to fight for it. With a written statement the workers have authorised their unions Peo, Sek and Deok to announce strike measures if the Federation of Cyprus Building Contractors does not meet their demands.

Read on: in English …

Research carried out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) shows that workers have lost from just under 5.000 pounds in the north-east to more than 20.000 pounds in London in real earnings since 2008. According to the union the country has suffered the worst real wage slump among leading economies. According to the analysis UK workers are suffering the longest real wage squeeze in more than 200 years, with average pay packets not set to recover to their 2008 level until 2024.

Read on: in English … Read on: in English (2) …