Collective Bargaining

The country’s approach to phasing out coal through a process of just transition could provide useful lessons for other countries and sectors, like farming and transport, that seek to both decarbonise and protect workers at the same time. But an analysis of the ‘German approach’ can also be read as a warning that climate targets can become overshadowed by focussing on jobs and other social aspects of the transition. To articles present different points of view on the matter.

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A strike in public transport, education and health care could easily lead to a black Friday throughout the country. There is a general strike, called by the some trade unions in the public and private sectors that will last, in some cases, even 24 hours. The strike was called to protest, among other things, against government measures, the deterioration of working conditions, the reduction of the social protection system and full enjoyment of social and health rights, for public education and against the law 107/2015 for the reduction of working time at equal pay and in favour of public investment for the environment and work. In a protest against insufficient funding for the national health fund, hospital doctors will refuse to do overtime.

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The trade unions in the postal services have announced a possible strike. Workers at Correos, the national postal service want to draw attention to their demands with a strike on Black Friday (30 November) and during the Christmas period (21-26 December). They ask for more investment in the service, improved wages and more permanent staff. The union that present up to 85% of the workforce at the services are still engaged in collective bargaining. If the results in the coming weeks are positive the strikes will be called off.

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A new report from the Financial Market Authority shows that pension funds are in a strong financial position and achieved an average investment return of 6.6% in 2017. Furthermore, the coverage ratio of pension funds has improved, with the average coverage increasing from 105.3% in 2016 to 111.1% in 2017. The FMA is the authority for 19 pension funds who insure a total of 40,866 people.

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Unions want the lowest paid workers to get a 40% pay hike over the next three years. Unions say increases are needed because living costs have also increased. Especially on the housing market. Negotiations on the issue are expected to become difficult because the union demand comes at a time were wages have already risen above inflation and economic growth is stagnating.

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As negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement for about 8,500 security guards broke off because of a conflict over wages, security guards organised a 3-day strike at Helsinki airport and multiple train stations across the country. The security workers have been without a collective agreement since the beginning of May 2018.

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The government has presented a bill for consultation that seeks to establish a workplace inspection service. A framework act, consisting of 28 laws has been discussed at the House labour committee and seeks to establish a workplace inspection service so as to ensure that inspection and penalty mechanisms function more effectively. So far there is strong disagreement between employers’ organisations and trade unions regarding the necessary competences allocated to the inspectors by the bill.

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After 2.5 years of negotiating (see our September newsletter) unions and employers in the construction sector reached an agreement on a new collective agreement for the sector. Union members voted in favour of signing the new agreement that includes the following improvements: an increase in tariff wages of 2.4%, a single premium of € 300, a rise in the end-of-year premium of 5% to 7%, a right to training for all employees, the granting of 27 days of leave and an end-of-year bonus for administrative employees.

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The industrial dispute at İstanbul’s new airport construction site continues with more than one hundred workers at site that launched a work stoppage because they have not received their wages for the last three months. Workers at the airport construction site organised already a strike in September due to allegedly dangerous working conditions that have caused hundreds of deaths (see earlier Newsletters). After that strike, the prosecutors ordered the detention of hundreds of workers on accusations of violating the law on meetings and demonstrations, violating the right of others to earn a living, damaging public property and inciting hatred and hostility among the people. Solidarity actions are initiated all over the world.

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Workers at several shipyards of the Uljanik group have been on strike in recent months (see our latest Newsletters). The core problem is the delay or even uncertainty of pay. Workers in Rijeka left the premises of the 3. Maj shipyard in a protest against unpaid wages. Workers was told that they would receive their September wages, but, according to a trade union representative workers no longer trust anyone. The Rijeka-based plant is part of the troubled Pula-based Uljanik group. The group’s bank account has been blocked for 60 days.

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