Collective Bargaining

In the middle of a collective bargaining dispute in the construction industry, workers organised two rallies to support demands for more wages and better working conditions. The last collective agreement expired in 2016 and for the new agreement workers and their union are demanding an increase of 4.5% in real wages. Some 3,000 workers took part in two demonstrations in order to stand up for their collective agreement. The unions have called for mediation by the national mediation office ONC that is in charge of resolving collective disputes on working conditions, as well as settling collective labour conflicts during bargaining.

Read on: in English … in German …

The negotiators in hospitality, trade unions Unia, Syna and Hotel&Gastro Union and the employers’ organisations GastroSuisse and Swiss Catering Association, finalised their annual pay bargaining and settled a new minimum wage in the sector. The minimum wages in the hospitality industry will increase by 1 to 1.3% from 1 January 2019. Currently, an unskilled worker in hospitality earns a monthly pay of 3435 Swiss Francs (3045 euro). On 1 January 2019, this will increase to 3470 Swiss Francs (3076 euro).

The joint press statement: in German… in French… in Italian…

The Union of Midwives and Nurses called for a day of industrial action at Mater Dei and other hospitals, health centres and elderly homes following a breakdown of negotiations with the government on a new sectoral agreement. They were joined by nursing aides and other health workers, who were called by the General Workers’ Union not to perform tasks usually carried out under the supervision of a nurse.

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The latest list of employers who underpaid the National Living and Minimum Wage contains the names of 239 employers found to have underpaid 22,400 UK workers by a total of £1.44m. The list identified more underpaid workers than in any previous single naming list. Employers underpaid workers by taking deductions from wages for uniforms, underpaying apprentices, failing to pay travel time, misusing the accommodation offset and using the wrong time periods for calculating pay.

The reported underpayment: in English …

The SUNI (Smart Unions for New Industry) project intended to explore similarities and differences in the role that trade unions, as relevant stakeholders in industrial innovation and socio-economic transition, are playing in influencing the development of the industry in the countries. A comparative report and four case studies were published, dedicated to the metal trade unions in Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, including their bargaining tradition. It is said that the unions’ awareness of this era of change and the willingness to proactively participate are a good start, but more effort is needed to integrate their initiatives into a broader framework of co-designed and co-implemented development paths at national, regional and workplace level.

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Trade union Unia published a brochure that describes the trade union’s migration and labour market policy from the beginning to the present day. It combines historical facts and political analysis. The quota policy of the past led to the inhumane exploitation of immigrant workers and widespread wage dumping. Therefore, the unions have always backed up the free movement of persons. In addition to the free movement of persons, the country’s flanking measures serve to protect wages and working conditions. However, only where minimum wages exist the workers’ pay can be protected. That is why, above all, more collective agreements with minimum wages are needed to ensure that such wages apply in all sectors.

The report: in German… in French…

Workers at the countries’ largest French-language daily tabloid ‘Le Matin’, went on strike to protest the recently-announced winding down of the printed version of the tabloid that is owned by Tamedia. Journalists from the paper, as well as other Tamedia-owned publications, demanded that the closure be overturned and that the associated job cuts (36, of which 22 editorial staff) be reversed. The strike was suspended following a successful offer of mediation by canton Vaud authorities

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Government is planning to set maximum fares for taxi rides, especially around the Riga airport. A government working group is in the process of preparing specific proposals for dealing with the taxicab issue. Meanwhile, the trade union of taxi drivers decided at an extraordinary meeting to set the maximum taxi fare for a ride from Riga International Airport to the city centre at 25 euro and the maximum fare for a ride from the airport to other districts of Riga at 30 euro. The trade union has also issued an appeal to several ministers asking for their support in setting fair taxi fares based on taxicab services’ actual costs.

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The ILO published a basic volume on the extension of collective agreements. The different chapters in this volume are about the extension of collective agreements as an act of public policy. According to the authors, many countries make provision for the Minister of Labour, a public agency or the court to extend a collective agreement to all employers and employees that fall within its scope. This is usually demarcated by sector or occupation; sometimes, especially in respect of non-wage issues, agreements are extended nationwide across sectors. The extension generalises the terms and conditions of employment, agreed between organised firms and workers, represented through their association(s) and union(s), to the non-organised firms within a sector, occupation or territory. It creates a level playing field for firms operating in similar markets. Specific chapters are dedicated to Germany, Portugal, the Nordic Countries, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

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

A study, commissioned by trade union Unite, concluded that an increase of the minimum hourly wage to £10 for workers over the age of 18 would generate £5.6 million a year for the public purse. The report took into account in its calculation increased tax receipts and national insurance contributions, as well as decreased state expenditure on in-work benefits. The researcher said that over three-quarters (78%) of young workers aged 18-20 would receive a pay rise if £10 became the statutory hourly minimum. Their net average income would increase by over £1,300 a year. A majority of workers in lower income sectors would benefit from the increase, including three-quarters of hospitality workers and two-thirds of retail workers.

Read on: in English …