McDonald's workers and their trade unions are fighting the company's dismissal of 4 union workers following the closure of its flagship restaurant in Milan's city centre. The conflict began on 19 July when managers told employees on duty that the restaurant would be closing the next day. Union representatives were not given any previous information. On 20 July, workers were called to a meeting in a hotel and given transfer letters to one of the company's ten directly-owned restaurants. Out of 50 workers, 46 were transferred to other restaurants, but on a temporary basis or to lower positions. 4 union activists were dismissed. The unions want the company to restore the climate of normality respecting the role of the union.
English: http://www.iuf.org/w .
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Public sector workers will receive a 1% pay increase in 2016. They will also recover part of their Christmas bonuses that the government had cut as part of 150 billion euro worth of cash-saving measures that fuelled angry street protests. Public sector pay was cut in 2010 under the former Socialist government and frozen in the following years as recession engulfed the country, sparked by the busting of a construction boom. In 2012 the conservative administration cut the Christmas bonus. It was announced that workers would get a quarter of that bonus back this year and a further half in 2016.
English: http://www.thelocal.es/20150801/spanish-public-workers-to-get-pay-rise
Employers in the culture sector have refused to start negotiations over a new pension scheme for workers in theatre, ballet, opera and orchestras. The Fagforbundet trade union of the sector had proposed a new hybrid pension scheme to replace the current defined benefits scheme. Employers' organisation Spekter refused to discuss hybrid options and wants to change to a full-defined contributions scheme.
English: http://epsu.org/a/11622
Calais ferry workers continue actions to protest against a layoff that would cost 600 colleagues their jobs. As reported in last month's newsletter, employer MyFerryLink is selling off two ferried to a rival firm, which would result in massive job losses. After large-scale actions in June affecting both the port and tunnel, ferry workers are now blocking the entrance roads to the port by burning tyres across the road.
English: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/31/striking-french-ferry-workers .
Public sector unions have demanded the reinstatement of collective bargaining in the public sector. The government is in the process of reforming the public sector, but has so far refused to enter into dialogue with trade unions. Public service federations FP CGIL, CISL FP, UIL FPL, and UILPA have organised a protest on 29 July to reiterate the call for social dialogue and warned more actions will follow.
English: http://epsu.org/a/11625
Trade union members at the Rio Centre (Dalston) Limited went to the CAC (Central Arbitration Committee) in March 2015 and formally won the right to collective union representation for their chosen bargaining unit, covering all staff except the Chief Executive. During the following negotiations the delegations were unable to reach agreement over the method for collective bargaining. The CAC heard and discussed the arguments put by the Board in defence of their method and, in particular, their request that the contents and existence of the agreement should remain confidential. The CAC pointed out that agreements of this kind are public documents and not generally perceived as sensitive information. The CAC then ruled to impose the CAC's own `specified method' which is a legally binding contract. If one party believes the other is failing to respect the method, the first party may apply to the court for an order of specific performance, ordering the other party to comply with the method. Failure to comply with such an order can constitute contempt of court.
English: https://www.bectu.org.uk/news .
Trade unions PGA-djp and vida have negotiated a collected agreement covering 600 emergency and medical workers at the non-profit Samaritan federation. The agreement, which enters into force retroactively from 1 July, is the first at the federation, whose workers were previously not covered by collective agreements.
English: http://www.epsu.org/a/11620
German: http://www.vida.at/servlet ...
The Global Framework Agreement (GFA) adopted by trade unions and Belgian-based chemicals multinational Solvay was presented as a best practice in new global labour relations at the ILO. Going beyond generalistic commitments to standards and norms the Solvay GFA contains stringent procedures as well as enforcement mechanisms. The agreement has a strong health and safety component and joint visits to worksite across the globe.
English: http://www.industriall-union.org/solvay-gfa-this-is-what-global-level-labour-relations .
Enpay, manufacturer of electro power transformers that supplies to several large multinationals has sacked up to 65 workers in a dispute over unionisation of the plant. The dispute started when Enpay fired all elected workers' representatives. Further rounds of dismissals started as union members organised protests demanding their representatives be reinstated. By 20 July, Enpay has sacked 65 workers.
English: http://www.industriall-union.org/supplier-for-multinationals-enpay-sacks-65 .
Extrapolated tax figures for 2014 showed that the average salary of the CEOs of the country's 200 biggest companies is around ISK 2.6 million (17,580 euro) per month. The two highest-earning CEOs skewed the figure so much that they were taken out before the average was calculated. Financial services workers saw among the highest year-on-year pay increase, with the top-earning 200 financiers increasing their monthly wages from ISK 1.9 million (12,847 euro) to ISK 2.1 million (14,199 euro).
English: http://icelandreview.com/news/2015/07/30/bankers-enjoy-big-pay-rise