Collective Bargaining

The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), has formulated a demand of 4% salary increases for 2019, with a monthly increase of at least €40, and tax relief so that workers can improve their living standard. The demands were set out by the union federation’s executive committee in early September. Moreover, the national minimum wage should increase to €650 per month and a housing and tax policy compatible with household income needs to be adopted, according to the CGTP’s priorities for 2019.

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A day before European unions announced a joint strike action of Ryanair workers in multiple countries (see our European section), pilots and cabin crew at the local Ryanair staged a full-day walkout. They demand better pay and better working conditions. Ryanair cancelled 150 out of a total 400 flights scheduled to fly to and from Germany due to the strike. Management warned that such ‘wildcat’ strikes would lead to job cuts if they continued. The Cockpit pilots' federation and the Verdi service workers' union said their talks with the Ryanair management had failed to break the impasse.

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Trade unions are campaigning for months for higher salaries and less work pressure at supermarkets. The unions said that there are many situations of burnout and exhaustion, many medical victims, absenteeism of up to 30% and in most cases with psychiatric victims. The working time rules are not being adhered to by the companies. Employees ask for more free weekends and fewer last-minute changes to their schedules to combine work and private life. The bargaining started 23 months ago. Workers of the hypermarkets, supermarkets and other retail and distribution branches went on strike to back up the demands.

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Companies are willing to pay higher salaries to attract new employees as the unemployment rate reached a new low in the first half of 2018 and available workforce is scarce in many sectors. Over 60% of 682 employers who participated in a survey said they plan to open up to 10 new positions in the second half of 2018, while 21% will open between 10 and 20 positions. The positions with the highest demand are those in sales, as 63% of the companies are looking for sales people, administrative activities (57%) and production (54%). Companies are also considering other benefits, such as optional pension or holiday vouchers. Based on another survey the hiring plans of the employers were called the most optimistic in Europe.

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The Minister of Justice and Security turned to court in an effort to stop planned labour actions by the police. The police unions called on officers to only respond to emergencies, and not perform any of their other duties. According to the Minister, this would jeopardise safety. The police action formed part of numerous police protests for a better collective bargaining agreement. Trade unions ACP, ANPV, NPB and VMHP have been protesting for a better collective bargaining agreement for weeks. Shortly after, the unions, the Ministry and the National Police Chief reached a new collective bargaining agreement. All actions were suspended.

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The Cabinet of Ministers decided to increase the minimum statutory salary of teachers with 30 euro to 710 euro, starting in September 2018. The increase fits in the government's timetable for increasing teachers' salaries from 1 September 2018 to 31 December 2022, which the government approved at the beginning of 2018. The improvement of the minimum salary applies to approximately 24,129 school teachers, 12,159 preschool teachers, 6,570 vocational school teachers, 7350 informal education teachers. Early this month, the Cabinet decided to postpone the vote on the teachers' minimum salary as objections regarding quality and quantity criteria for high schools raised in talks between the government and the social partners.

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The healthcare trade unions rejected an offer for a 5% pay rise, holding on to their demand for a 10% pay rise. In July 2018 the unions already called a strike alert. They have declared that if their demands are not met they are ready to turn to industrial action. For now, this would effectively mean that the union would call on doctors and nurses to stop doing over-time. Such actions would be widely felt as many hospitals admit that due to a shortage of staff they are forcing doctors and nurses to take more overtime hours than the Labour Code abides.

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Workers at a logistical return centre of Amazon in Sered, that employs over a 1000 people, founded a trade union in order to fight for better working conditions and salaries. One of the other pressing problems that workers at the Amazon branch put forward is overtime; working hours often exceed the number stipulated by the labour code. The union wants to launch collective bargaining at the latest by the beginning of 2019.

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In the Q2 report on working life developments Eurofound reports that the number of job vacancies rose to record highs and the vacancy rate is above EU average. It is reported that due to labour shortages some firms are unable to accept orders and businesses are relocating production sites abroad due to lack of personnel. Ongoing strong wage growth is helping labour conflicts to remain local and relatively mild. While industrial action in the business sector was moderate, there were tensions in the public sector. Especially amongst health workers, social workers and other public servants that did not benefit from earlier wage rises.

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The Social-Economic Council has agreed to set the net hourly minimum wage for 2019 at 155 Dinar (1.30 euro). Currently, the net minimum wage in Serbia is 143 Dinar. After the Council's meeting it was said that this increase is the result of compromises made by ‘all sides’. The increase will be accompanied by other agreed measures.

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