Digitalisation, globalisation, global competition: The world of work is becoming more and more unfair, according to the trade union confederation DGB’s new labour study on work worldwide ‘Atlas of work’. It is becoming increasingly difficult to create and maintain good jobs. As a result, at least 1.4 billion people around the world were working in precarious jobs.
Read on: in German … Atlas of work: in English … in German …
[close]After almost two years of negotiating unions representing BBC staff came to a significantly improved pay deal. The proposal includes a three-year deal on pay backdated from August 2017 and running until the end of July 2020. Wage increases are 2% for 2017-18, 2% in 2018-19 and 2.5%, or the increase in the licence fee settlement if higher, in 2019-20. The minimum pay at the corporation will increase from 15687 pounds to 20000. A ballot of BBC staff will open on 21 May and close on 8 June. The deal includes improvements to terms and conditions for staff covering London weighting, pay progression, parental leave, sick pay, contracts of employment and new approaches to weekend pay and night working.
Read on: in English (1) … in English (2)…
[close]The ongoing labour dispute in the public sector (see our March and April newsletters) has come to a positive conclusion. The collective bargaining process that started December 2017 resulted in an agreement with the trade unions that met most of their demands. The unions, representing 180,000 state workers and around 500,000 municipality workers, were demanding an 8.2% pay rise over 3 years. The main highlights of the collective agreement are an 8.1 % economic increase over the next 3 years, public sector workers will benefit from a real wage increase matching wage developments in the private sector and specific pay rise targeting low-wage public sector workers’ professions including specific provisions to bridge the gender pay gap.
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[close]The OECD published its regular report on structural reforms in policy areas that have been identified as priorities to boost incomes in OECD and selected non-OECD. The report provides data on changes in collective wage bargaining policy. The main policy priorities are updated every two years and presented in a full report, which includes individual country notes, with detailed policy recommendations to address the priorities as well as a follow-up on actions taken.
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[close]Furniture giant Ikea will cut 110 jobs in the southern region of the country as it shifts its strategy towards e-commerce. The company announced the plans of a cut of 90 workers in Malmö, and a further 20 shared between Helsingborg and the regional headquarter in Älmhult. Negotiations with the unions and with workers’ representatives have started. The decision to cut jobs in human resources, sustainability, marketing, and communication, will also lead to job losses in Belgium and the Netherlands. The company foresees more changes in its organisational structure.
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[close]Bus drivers in Paphos went on strike because they did not receive their April salary. The Paphos Transport Organisation (Osypa) told the drivers that the company was unable to pay wages because the company had not received their state subsidy. The company’s 117 vehicles remained stationary, with the 237 drivers and other staff warning that they would not return to work unless they received their salaries. The strike affected thousands of people, amongst them a lot of students.
Read on: in English …
[close]Because negotiations on a new collective agreement with better wages failed the country’s 95 independent midwives that go on home visits went on strike last month. They asked for a new agreement with a 13.8% salary increase (see our April newsletter). The midwives have been fighting to improve their pay for nearly two years. With the midwives on strike, the hospitals will have to deal with all deliveries of new-borns. The independent midwives have made a deal with the government. Currently, the midwives working for the National University Hospital of Iceland have announced that they will refuse to take any extra shifts from 1 May until a new collective labour agreement is struck between the state and the Icelandic Midwives’ Association. Shortly after that, the midwives from Akureyri Hospital have also taken action.
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[close]According to the national statistics bureau (CBS), 32 strikes took place in 2017, the highest number of strikes since 1989. The highest number of strikes occurred in the industry and transport and storage sectors. The industry sector suffered 13 strikes and the transport and storage sector 12, equating to 10.000 lost working labour days and more than 2.000 respectively. Whilst the highest number of strikes occurred in the industry sector, the most sizeable strike transpired in the education sector with over 10.000 educators participating.
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[close]McDonald’s’ workers walked out of branches calling for guaranteed hours, a £10 per hour living wage, equal pay for young workers, and union recognition. The strike followed the first-ever instance of industrial action taken against the fast food chain in September 2017. Despite photographs of packed picket lines being published on Twitter, McDonald’s claimed only one worker had taken part in the action. The Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union has been in dispute with the company as it does not bargain with a trade union over working conditions for its workers in the UK – but it does in Denmark, France and Germany.
Read on: in English … Pictures on Twitter
[close]Trade union FIOM, FIM and UILM have occupied the Termini Imerese town hall. The occupation is part of a protest against the failure of the Blutec company to meet union demands. The unions refer to guarantees of the national government related to an agreement between the national agency to attract investment Invitalia and Blutec. It was agreed that public funding would be used to get the former FIAT plant back to production.
Read on: in English …
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