Collective Bargaining

Taxi drivers’ organisations have organised a 24 hours strike on 29 November 2017, against the activity of the Rental Vehicles with Driver (VTC) that operate through platforms such as Cabify or Uber. From 06.00, calling a taxi was impossible in large cities, except for services in hospitals, emergency, airports and stations. Fedetaxi, the Caracol Association, Antaxi, Elite Taxi (FETE) and Plataforma TNT are organising an additional demonstration in Madrid, which could gather more than 20,000 people.

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An inspection report has revealed that labour related infringements were found at more than 70% of the inspected workplaces in the first 9 months of 2017. The authorities inspected 14,000 employers and 60,000 employees, respectively. According to the findings, the rate of illegal hiring has grown from 11.6% in 2016 to 16% in 2017, mostly in construction, agriculture and security companies. In most cases, the employer does not register the employee and does not pay legal taxes. Another tax-avoiding practice is registering the employee as part-time, while he or she works full-time.

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The trade union CGT announced that it was calling for a 24-hour strike by workers in the gas and electricity supply industries over a pay dispute. It urged members to down tools so as to cause supply shortages and power plant outages. A union representative said proposals made by employers in pay negotiations were insufficient following salary freezes and tax increases that hit workers in 2017. The strike reduced electricity output by 1,000 megawatts.

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The executive board of the education trade union SVIZ unanimously passed a resolution regarding a strike in the education sector, foreseen for February 2018, if the employers do not meet the union demands. The union is asking for an increase of the basic pay of teachers and other educators from kindergarten to the university level, as well as better compensation for classwork and 1200 euro of gross holiday allowance for all employees whose pay is lower than or equal to the minimum wage, as well as the right to take part in collective bargaining in the field of education. A ballot for strike is planned in December 2017.

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The statistical office released statistics on the national wages, including sectoral data. Comparing the 3rd to the 2nd quarter wages seem to have decreased slightly, due to bonuses in the 2nd quarter of 2017. The average monthly gross wages in the 3rd quarter of 2017 were 1,201 euro, having increased 7.4% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2016. Real wages, which take into account the impact of the change in the consumer price index, continued to increase slower compared to the 3rd quarter of 2016 than the average monthly gross wages and salaries due to an increase in consumer prices. Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2016, real wages rose 3.7%.

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Home store retailer Ikea is confronted with a dispute after one of its employees complained that she was sacked for refusing early morning shifts because she had to care for her disabled son. Despite giving her unwritten assurances that she would be given a more flexible schedule, management was not willing to help out. The trade unions have reacted furiously and said that this is a clear message to employees: they want everyone to know that they’re the ones who decide and, regardless of whatever problems anyone might have, either you agree or you’re out. The retailer workers’ union Filcams CGIL called two hour-long strikes at the Corsico Ikea store and plans a protest there on 5 December.

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The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that workers can claim compensation for untaken holidays. The ruling could have consequences for ‘gig workers’. The dispute was over the employment contract of a salesman, which did not specify if he was entitled to paid leave. The salesman had been paid entirely on commission and his contract described him as self-employed. A UK employment tribunal subsequently found he should have been treated as a full-time worker. The CJEU has reinforced his rights.

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The trade unions and employers in the retail sector have signed a collective agreement. The agreement prescribes that store workers may not work more than two Sundays per month. Moreover, they will earn double-time pay on Sundays, and the hourly rate must not fall below 5.4 euro on Sundays. Moreover, stores will remain closed on certain holidays. The agreement also includes provisions for a better work-life balance, for instance for persons raising children, for pregnant women and women who have giving birth.

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The Central Statistics Bureau released data on the national average gross wages for fulltime jobs. Compared to the third quarter in 2016, workers earned 7.5% more in 2017. The consumer prices have increased too, thus this had a negative effect on the purchasing power of the employees. Real wages grew only by 3.7%. Workers in the professional, scientific and technical branches experienced the highest increase in wages.

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The Telecom's workers trade union (STPT) has accused the management of Altice of being responsible for the crisis in which the group is plunged and says there is no longer any room to have ‘the best prospects’ regarding PT Portugal. In a statement sent to the media, STPT claims that ‘the management that the owners of the group apply everywhere they operate, based on cost cuts, reduction of organizational structures, reduction of workers, etc., are having a negative effect on the quality of the service provided’.

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