Collective Bargaining

PWC published a wage report. Despite the increase in the minimum wage, which was twice increased in the last 12 months, salaries in the private sector registered only a modest growth in 2014. Salaries in the private sector were up 4.1% on average this year, below the growth of 4.6% last year. Over half of the companies plan to increase salaries by around 4% in 2015.
English: http://business-review.eu/featured/pwc-private-sector-wages-increased ...

The Prison Offices Association (POA) served notice of industrial action on the Irish Prison Service. Prison officers at two of the country's largest prisons are to begin work stoppages later this month in a dispute over staffing levels. The POA has accused the prison service of breaching local agreements on staffing levels.
English: http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0904/641489-prison-officers/

An analysis of the Labour Force Survey by the trade union confederation TUC shows that the number of people who count as underemployed - people working part-time because they can't get a full-time job, or wanting more hours in their current job - has increased for both employees and the self-employed. The analysis shows that while unemployment has fallen by over 400,000 since early 2012, underemployment has risen by 93,000 over the last two years. And at 3.4 million the current level of underemployment is over a million higher (46%) than it was before the recession.
English: http://www.tuc.org.uk/economic-issues/labour-market/record-number-people ...

The social partners in construction have initiated the `fair prices initiative' that aims to encourage debate and establish dialogue among participants of the process of public procurement and politically responsible bodies and individuals as well as to interrupt neglect, silence and tolerance by the public contracting authorities. Contracting authorities are buying whatever is cheapest, because the public procurement act prescribes that the best tender shall be a tender with the lowest price. The cheapest supplier with the cheapest labour destroys himself and other construction companies and jobs.
English: http://www.bwint.org/default ...

The decision of Doosan Infracore to close its excavator factory and parts distribution facility in Frameries, with the loss of up to 313 jobs, was met with surprise from the works council. The announcement came unexpected as the agenda of the extraordinary works council meeting included the item of economic perspectives, but not the closure of the plant. The trade unions want to talk as soon as possible with the management, also because the plant is still profitable in their vision.
English: http://www.khl.com/magazines/construction-europe ...

Two researchers have formulated serious question marks with regard to the trade impact studies that are used to `motivate' the negotiations between the EU and the United States in the frame of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Notably the effects on wages and employment are criticized. For instance the estimated employment gains look big in absolute numbers but pale in relation to the overall labour pool. The authors note that those who commissioned the studies had already come down in favour of the TTIP. However, the forecasts of economic impact studies should always deserve close scrutiny. Otherwise their results will be driven by their (biased) assumptions.
English: http://column.global-labour-university.org/2014/09/selling-free-trade ...

Following an interview in which the social affairs and health minister questioned how many people actually earn less than 2,600 euros per month, the JHL trade union met with the minister to explain `what life is like for those in low-paid jobs'. At a presentation the trade union claimed that figures from Statistics Finland show that over 800,000 people- or nearly 15% of the population - earn less than 2,600 euros a month. Meanwhile 90,000 earn below 2,100 euros. In some professions, such as child-minder and cleaner, over half of all workers earn a monthly salary below 2,100 euros.
English: http://yle.fi/uutiset/union_delivers_250_low-income_payslips ...

The Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey reported in the 2nd quarter an average monthly gross wage of 1,023 euro, an increase of 4.8% year on year. Average hourly gross wages were 6.21 euro and increased 8.8% compared to the same quarter of 2013. The average gross wages and salaries were 996 euro in April, 1,002 euro in May and 1,065 euro in June 2014.
English: http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2014/9/1/average-pay-in-estonia-up ...
http://www.stat.ee/72489

According to a report, more than 14,000 Slovenians regularly work in Austria, with around half commuting daily across the border, an increase with 2,500 during the past 12 months. The main motives for people crossing the border to seek work are a lack of jobs at home and higher earnings. The workers involved are said to be generally satisfied with the working conditions and attitude of their employers, who as a rule respect labour laws: `In a case of disagreement, the Austrian Chamber of Labour is responsible for disputes, but inquiries over disputes with the employers are few'.
English: http://www.thelocal.at/20140901/14000-slovenians-work-in-austria
http://www.sloveniatimes.com/over-14-000-slovenians-working-in-austria

In the middle of a political crisis in which the country is being governed by a caretaker government, its caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy has opened up the debate about the minimum wage. Minister Hristoskov said the minimum wage could be increased from BGN 340 to BGN 400 without the business sector experiencing negative impact. The caretaker government furthermore intends to raise social security contributions in order to close the budget gap of the country's welfare institutions. The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) firmly opposes the plan, arguing the minimum wage is already relatively high, that labour productivity has not increased and that the hike in wages and contributions could result in the loss of jobs.
English: http://www.novinite.com/view_news ...