An overwhelming majority of Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) workers has given their union leaders a blank cheque to call strikes, in a bid to thwart plans to privatise the state-owned power utility. Votes taken at regional meetings yielded percentages of 95 to 98% in favour of authorising EAC-affiliated trade unions to carry out `dynamic measures', including strike action, should the government proceed with privatisation plans. After the government agreed to delay the first stage in a process seen as culminating in the power utility's privatisation the trade unions said they would suspend any industrial action until April 15, as a goodwill gesture in order not to inconvenience the public.
English: http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/03/26/eac-unions-call-off-strike/
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The bargaining season has started and the social partners are negotiating in several sectors. The trade unions and the employers in the banking and insurance sectors reached an agreement on a 1.78% pay increase for the 50,000 employees in the finance sector. The electro and electronics industry bargaining partners agreed to a 2% wage rise for the 50,000 employees in the sector. In the ceramic and stone industries a pay increase of 2%, with a minimum of 40 euro, was agreed, starting 1 May 2015. The agreement includes a further wage increase in 2016 (with 0.35% plus inflation index). Most unions are also pushing forward the free time option, a provision that was introduced in the collective agreements of 2013. This provision allows employees to receive their raise in time rather than money.
German: http://www.oegb.at/cms ...
http://www.oegb.at/cms/S06 ...
http://www.gpa-djp.at/cms ...
Trade union confederation LO and the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise NHO have reached an agreement in their collective bargaining for workers in manufacturing industries. The deal is estimated by both sides to result in an average pay increase of 2.7 percent for the 175,000 workers involved, below the central bank's forecast for wages to rise nationally by 3% in 2015. Both sides have emphasised the need for moderate wage growth in 2015 as the economy faces a slowdown with lower activity in the oil sector.
English: http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/137869/Norways_Industrial_Workers_Reach ...
The acting coalition has agreed to raise the minimum monthly wage to 325 euro. It has to be noted that this would still be one of the lowest figures in the Baltic States. The country's presidency has stated that social security and the reduction of social exclusion should be some of the main priorities for parliament's spring session. According to the president, it is necessary to increase the lowest salaries, social payments and pensions. The minimum monthly wage increased in October 2014 to EUR 300. Data from the statistical office reveal that in October 2014 the number of employees with gross earnings of 300 euro and less in the whole economy (including individual enterprises) stood at 19.4% (211.4 thousand). More than half of employees (124.7 thousand) earning 300 euro and less were working part-time.
English: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng ...
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics ...
The number of employees working reduced hours under the so-called `chômage partiel' scheme is set to increase for the third consecutive month in April. Under the programme, companies can reduce labour costs by cutting hours. Employees meanwhile are compensated by the state for the wages lost as a consequence. The measure is aimed at helping companies in difficult financial circumstances. The economic committee decided to grant all of the 15 applications submitted for April. Out of 2,038 workers employed by the involved companies, 927 will work reduced hours (in February 692 employees were working reduced hours).
English: http://www.guichet.public.lu/entreprises/en/actualites ...
Trade union research, involving 4,200 people, reveals that nine in ten people on flexible contracts would rather have a permanent job. Four out of ten workers with a flexible contract say they have difficulty making ends meet, compared with fewer than one in five people with a traditional fixed contract. Some 30% of people with `on call' contracts and 40% of temps say it is hard to find an affordable place to live, compared with one in ten people in permanent jobs. The research also shows 15% of people on flexible contracts earn less than the minimum wage, which is currently €9.58 an hour.
English: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2015/03/nine-in-10-workers-on-flexible ...
Trade union UHM has called the pension time-bomb, the sustainability of Malta's transport network, a more efficient healthcare system, the state of the environment and the educational system the major concerns for workers. The five concerns were expressed on a large canvas in front of the new parliament building, in the form of a cartoon by MaltaToday cartoonist and illustrator Mark Scicluna.
English: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/51083/uhm_lists_the_five_top_concerns ...
The national strike authority has warned that a strike planned by trade unions representing workers at Florence's popular Uffizi Gallery would be illegal. Around 400 workers, providing services as the ticket office, the cloakroom and the bookshop decided to go for a strike after the announcement by the heritage ministry of a reorganisation and privatisation. Workers ask for a social safeguard clause and maintenance of pay and contract conditions. The authority called two days `excessive' for a first action in the dispute and said that sanctions were possible if the unions go ahead with the walkout. The unions claim that they have been ignored for too long.
English: http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/134578/Strike-at-Uffizi-Easter-week-illegal ...
http://www.corriere.it/english/15_marzo_20/strike-to-close-uffizi-on-easter-weekend ...
Employers' groups have warned that any increase in the national minimum wage would have a serious knock-on impact on wages and competitiveness. They claim that such an increase would put upward pressure on pay for those on salaries above the minimum wage. Some representatives called for the scrapping of Joint Labour Committees which set legally binding wage rates higher than the national minimum wage in other areas. During the same meeting other groups, representing women, migrants and the charity, stated that an increase in minimum wage would narrow the gender pay gap, reduce exploitation, and tackle poverty among the working poor. The trade union confederation Irish Congress of Trade Unions said it was vital to provide protection for workers who came forward to pursue their rights on wages and poor contracts.
English: http://www.rte.ie/news/2015 ...
The three trade unions SEK, PEO and DEOK organised a demonstration in Nicosia after claiming hotel staff would work six 12-13 hour shifts a week for €500-?600 a month. Workers fear if they object they will lose their jobs. They also said people have not been paid for three years and have not received provident fund payments.
English: http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/03/24/hotel-workers-demonstrate-threaten ...