Collective Bargaining

The Swiss Trade Association (SGV) calculated that productivity per worker rose by up to 16% during the COVID-19 lockdown. The increase can be explained by a greater focus on the most essential tasks, and also by the fact that, being forced to avoid daily commutes, employees were able to streamline work habits at home. In response to these findings, the association asks politicians to consider deregulatory reforms to facilitate remote working and more flexible working rules. Such a request already met with resistance by trade unions.

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The government provided the Unemployment Insurance Fund with CHF 100 million (€940,000) to pay compensation for short-time working due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies will also be entitled to direct subsidies for losses during the pandemic.

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The Portuguese Public Finances Council (CFP), an independent administrative entity, stated that the country's redundancy rate may rise by 11% to 13.1% this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the best-case scenario, the employment rate may drop by 5% and the redundancy rate may increase by 11% in 2020.

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A new revision of the Labour Code would allow employers to set the maximum duration of cumulative working time at 24 months. The government says the change is needed to prevent mass layoffs in certain sectors affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. But unions fear the new regulation would allow employers to exploit their employees.

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After weeks of fruitless negotiations, the traffic and services union vida and the economic chamber (WKÖ) agreed on a ‘crisis’ collective agreement for the 500 Laudamotion employees stationed in Vienna. Income for flight attendants will increase by 44% and for co-pilots by 18% compared to the initial offer by the company.

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Amid efforts to revive economic activity and shield employment and sectors affected by the corona pandemic, the government is working on a comprehensive employment shield package to support jobs, the Treasury and Finance Minister announced. In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, the government topped up the wages of employees whose work hours were cut and whose employers applied for funding.

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Estonia has the highest gender pay gap in the European Union, but following consultations with the European Commission, the government confirmed its support for increasing wage transparency. The goal is to identify the most effective opportunities for ensuring the principle of equal pay for women and men.

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A group of ten unions called for a strike in hospitals. The group includes four of the five main unions in the public healthcare sector – the CGT, FO, SUD, and Unsa – and the two hospital collectives – Inter-Emergencies and Inter-Hospitals. The unions are calling for a general revaluation of wages, new recruitment and training plans, and the halt of the closing of establishments and reduction of services and beds.

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Amazon workers strike over virus safety

June 29, 2o20

Amazon warehouse workers have gone on strike over safety concerns relating to the coronavirus, as the company announced it would hand out $500 million (€445 million) in “special one-time Thank You” bonuses to its frontline employees globally. Staff at six Amazon facilities did not clock into work, according to the union Verdi, which has demanded that the company sit down with it to negotiate a collective agreement on health protection at work and better pay. Up to 40 Amazon workers at two fulfilment centres in Bad Hersfeld have tested positive for the virus in the past two weeks. The union said the strike would last for two days.

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According to the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), the average wage rose by 5% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019. Consumer prices in the same period grew by 3.6%, hence real wages increased by 1.4% in one year. The median wage stood at CZK 29,333 (€1,096) in the first quarter of 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet visible in these figures.

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According to Eurostat data the unemployment rate went up to 6.8% in April, the month that was most affected by anti-pandemic measures. In other EU countries, unemployment increased from 6.4% in March to 6.6% in April; the Slovakian figures were 5.6% and 6.8%, respectively.

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