Collective Bargaining

The Ministry of Health has asked the outgoing government to ensure that health workers will get a wage hike next year. The normal procedure would be to leave this decision for the new government but many fear that remaining uncertainty about wage development in the sector (see our October newsletter) would only deteriorate the staffing problems that already exists within the healthcare sector. The World Bank and the European Commission earlier reported that multiple deaths per day could have been prevented if health care in the country would meet normal European standards. Labour shortages in the sector are the main cause of the problem. The Latvian Trade Union of Health and Social Care Employees (LVSADV) therefore has send a letter to the government demanding that they will provide 90 million euro in order to increase healthcare workers' salaries.

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The country is facing serious labour shortages. Continuing high demand for labour has resulted in an unprecedented situation where there are no more than 0.7 jobseekers per vacancy. The lack of sufficient labour forces pushes employers to increase wages above the growth in labour productivity and offer flexible forms of work. In agreement with the main trade union confederation proposed a 12.3% increase of the minimum wage as of 1 January 2019. After disapproval from employers, coalition partners, and the second largest trade union confederation, the Association of Independent Trade Unions (ASO), the proposed increase was revised to 9.8%.

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In a debate on the future of work union Fórsa workers calls for a four-day working week so the fruits of technological change can be equally split. According to the union, most of the benefits of increased productivity has gone to a small ‘global elite’ rather than working people and this has to change. The union also sees a rationale for a four-day working week in increased productivity. By producing more with less, our needs would be met through less.

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The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) plans to ballot workers on strike action in a dispute over working on rest days. The union wants its members – who include ticket office, platform and control room staff to have parity with ScotRail drivers that are paid 300 pounds for working on a rest day. Another important demand of the union is that plans to outsource vital station maintenance and repair work are withdrawn.

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F Trade Union Confederation LO presented a redistribution program with proposals for measures that will help the country combat inequality. LO points out that income differentials have continued to increase in recent decades and that the country has fallen from the top of the list of the most equal countries in the OECD to the tenth place. The following 6 points are the focus of the redistribution program: 1. Set a goal for equality 2. Fairer taxation of capital income 3. Determine unfair differences between city and country 4. Unemployment and health insurance need to be improved 5. A pension to live on 6. Provide support that provides reasonable living conditions.

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After weeks of negotiations and strike actions, government and three public sector trade unions came to an agreement on wage increases that are said to be worth more than 300 million euro. The agreement was made with SVIZ union of teachers and two unions representing health care employees. Meanwhile nearly 20 public sector unions are still negotiating with the government and planning a strike and protest alongside unions from the private sector for 5 December 2018. The police are also amongst the workers that are still negotiating with government and intensifying their industrial actions.

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According to new statistics from the Labour Force Survey unemployment levels remain at historic lows while wages continue to rise. Over the last year unemployment decreased from 3.7% in October 2017 to 2.9% in October 2018. Wage have risen 0.4% in the same time period. When inflation is taken into account the wage index has risen by 3.2%.

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Trade union MaSzSz and opposition parties’ unions have protested a bill submitted to parliament that would extent the maximum allowed overtime from 250 to 400 hours. Also, employers would only have to compensate employees every three years for overtime instead of the current 12 months. Furthermore, the new bill would extend the period employers may account overtime for the purpose of calculating wages and rest days from twelve months to three years. Opposition fears that this new bill will gradually introduce a six-day working week.

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After an earlier strike organized by the Norwegian Nurses Organisation (NSF) at the end of October 2018, the Association of Norwegian Enterprise (NSO) called out a lockout to all 501 NSF members under this tariff agreement. The nation’s first ever lockout in healthcare. In the strike only 55 strategically selected nurses took part, as to hurt healthcare institutions only financially and not put any patients at risk. A massive lockout on the other hand could have serious consequences for the health and safety of patients. The government therefore forced arbitration to end the lockout and strike. The NSF is demanding that nurses who work in the private healthcare sector receive the same wages and sick-leave benefits as nurses that fall directly under the responsibility of the municipalities.

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A two-week strike at airline LOT ended after management and trade unions reached an agreement. The workers went on strike to protest changes to employment contracts and the dismissal of a flight attendant who functioned as chief union representative at LOT (see our October newsletter). Part of the agreement is that management promised that the union representative will be reinstated and that they will start working on new pay rules. Since 2003 LOT put a freeze on hiring to permanent positions, which means new staff are not entitled paid sick or holiday leave.

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