Collective Bargaining

Representatives of the oilmen trade union, representing workers of the oil refining company Orlen Lietuva in Mazeikiai, Lithuania, have asked for government help in a continued standoff with the management. The mediation is being sought as workers are planning more strikes, if their social benefits and wages won't be guaranteed at the key petrol and diesel fuel supplier. Currently 1,410 people work in the refinery.
English: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua ...

Trade unions and employers' federations have signed an agreement with the main clients, Fennovoima and Rusatom Overseas companies, regarding common rules for the future construction work on a nuclear power plant in Pyh„joki. Objective of the site agreement is to settle the policies of cooperation and operating principles in advance, before actual construction work even begins. The purpose is also to guarantee that everything runs in accord with applicable legislation and existing collective agreements and practices.
English: http://heikkijokinen.info/en/trade-union-news-from-finland/554-comprehensive-site ...

In a large article the pros and cons of cooperatives led by the trade unions are treated. The author was invited by several organisations, including trade union IG Metall to give an answer to such questions as: Why should trade unions and cooperatives partner together? Can the model work for large industrial firms? Are cooperatives as viable as conventional firms? He concludes that it is an important method to protect collective bargaining and that union cooperatives are the engine of a culture that one day can enable democratic institutions to rival the economic power of shareholder corporations and achieve a balanced and democratic economy and society.
English: http://truth-out.org/news/item/24614-will-german-workers-declare-independence

Up to 2,500 older workers will leave PSA Peugeot Citroen in 2014-15 under a deal struck with the trade unions in 2013. Peugeot, which employs some 70,000 people in France, has pledged to cut payroll costs to 12.5% of group revenue by 2016 from 15.1% in 2013. The departure terms for senior workers amount to a form of early retirement - funded by restructuring charges rather than payroll until the employees reach pensionable age. The number, higher than the 2,000 previously anticipated, reflects a bigger-than-expected uptake of the voluntary scheme. Under the deal with unions, the company is hiring cheaper young workers under temporary training contracts.
English: http://www.theguardian.com/business ...

A strike by SAS Ground Holding personnel grounded all of the airline's flights at Copenhagen Airport. The airline decided to fly stranded passengers without their luggage. The striking baggage workers went to a meeting to discuss ongoing negotiations with SAS management on working hours and salary. The strike was also the result of the decision to lay off 900 baggage handlers. After the talks the strike was called off.
English: http://www.thelocal.dk/20140626/sas-flying-again-after-strike-called-off

A green investment fund created by the government will be able to lend money to companies that intend to invest in environment-friendly projects. Aside from the fund, a green innovation pool will also be created to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises innovation. According to Dansk Metal, the trade union for those working in information technology, engineering and mechanics, the fund can create some 7,000 jobs.
English: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140625/denmark ...

The third biggest air traffic controller union, Unsa-ICNA had planned a six day strike from 24 June onwards. After talks between union leaders and the government the strike was cancelled. The air traffic controllers were protesting against expected cuts in the 2015-2019 budget that France is due to send to the European Commission for the Single European Sky Plan by 30 June. The strike was called off after the government recognised the `importance of investment in the sector' said the trade union which launched the protest. Ryanair, which was forced to cancel around 200 flights, had slammed the strike and called on the EU Commission to remove the right to strike from Europe's air traffic controllers, who were `once more attempting to blackmail ordinary consumers with strikes'.
English: http://www.thelocal.fr/20140625/french-airport-strike-hits-dozens-of-flights
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/french-right-to-fly-in-the-face-of-oleary ...
http://www.english.rfi.fr/visiting-france/20140623-french-air-traffic-control-strike ...

The Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has invited IMPACT and South Dublin County Council to talks after 600 IMPACT members took strike action in a dispute over the unilateral imposition of pay cuts. The strike followed four weeks of more limited industrial action, which was provoked when council management cut the pay of 13 of its staff and revealed plans to do the same to another 150 workers. Workers concerned had been carrying out extra work with additional responsibilities - some of them for as long as 12 years.
English: http://www.impact.ie/14/06/25/IMPACT-accepts-invitation-to-Labour-Relations ...

In a dispute over a proposed wage cut (of 500 euro for some parts of the workforce) drivers and terminal workers of the national postal carrier Itella have organised a walk-out. 300 members of the AKT transport workers' union took part in the industrial action that effectively guaranteed that no cargo belonging to Itella or its subcontractors was handled at Finnish ports. The employers called the strike illegal and excessive.
English: http://yle.fi/uutiset/itella_strike_slows_cargo_distribution ...
http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/10995-legality-of-itella-strike ...

The official statistical office came with wage figures for 2012. Gross average annual earnings per worker decrease a 0.8% as compared with 2011 to 22,726.44 euro in 2012 (25,682.05 euro for men, and 19,537.33 euro for women). The economic activity with the highest average annual wage was Supply of electrical energy, gas, steam and air-conditioning, with 52,324.67 euro per worker per year on average. This figure was 130.2% higher than the national average. The lowest average annual wages were for Accommodation and Administrative and support services activities, with 13,867.02 and 16,130.55 euro, respectively. These figures were 39.0% and 29.0% below the average.
English: http://www.ine.es/en/prensa/np852_en.pdf