Collective Bargaining

In a survey the median gross salary of people with university education was investigated. The outcome shows that academic workers earn CZK 176.30/hour (or 6.4 euro). This is roughly twice lower compared to Germany. On the other hand, the salaries of this type of specialists in Ukraine, Russia and Slovakia turn out to be significantly lower.
English: http://eu.cianews.cz/english-news/mujplat-cz-median-hourly-gross-salary ...

Coatings maker Helios, the first from a list of 15 companies doomed for privatisation, is facing first layoffs even before the new owner, Austria's Ring International, has taken over. Concrete figures are not available, but it is suggested that between 100 and 170 employees stand to lose their jobs; figures that have not yet been confirmed. The trade union stated that the arrival of a private partner entails a risk that business decisions taken will not benefit people and underscored that `the benefit the state will obtain through the sale of its stake will obviously be negligible as the proceeds will be spent the next moment to fill up holes at banks'.
English: http://www.sloveniatimes.com/layoffs-at-helios-before-arrival-of-new-owner

Employers' organisation AWVN has said the companies that are doing well should no longer hold on to a pay freeze. While AWVN does not agree with the 3% increase across the board demanded by trade unions, it is an acknowledgement that wages have lagged behind inflation since 2008.
English: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/12/employers_group_calls ...

Newspaper The Guardian has listed some rules and tips that help you to understand the functioning of the European Union, and notably the British attitude towards the European cooperation. For instance `anything prime ministers agree to in EU institutions can later be attributed to something called "Brussels", which is a sinister compound that erodes national sovereignty - often, but by no means exclusively found in the capital of Belgium'. Another tip is that British journalists should ignore whenever possible the possibility that Britain is itself a European country.
English: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/22/etiquette-guide-to-europe

An OSE-paper explores the economic situation. From 2004 to 2007, the GDP grew by 34%. In just a couple of years, the property prices increased fourfold, while nominal wages doubled. Increases in public wages were even higher than in the private sector, in 2007, reaching 40%. At the eve of the financial collapse the consumer price inflation reached 18%. By most measures, the country's credit boom outsized all other credit booms from 2000 to 2006, expanding annually from 37% to 64%. In the time period from early 2011 to mid-2013 the government secured compliance with the euro accession inflation target at the cost of (postponing) urgent reforms in social policy, as set out by the Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs). In two years the economy shrank by approximately 25%. Public wages were cut by 20%, then by another 5%. However, since the middle of 2012 the European Commission has expressed worries that the changes did not address the long-pending necessity to alleviate the tax burden on the poor. A Commission economist stated that there are too many low wages, and that the tax wedge on labour is highest for people with the lowest income.
English: http://www.ose.be/files/publication/OSEPaperSeries/Eihmanis_2013 ...

In an ongoing pay dispute, Amazon workers have organised a week long Christmas strike until 21 December. The strike, that was announced in advance, interfered with the company's Christmas shipments. Meanwhile, a delegation of trade unionists, including the American union AFL-CIO, went to Amazon global headquarters in Seattle. Global management, however, refused to negotiate with the unions, stating they `feel it is best to work directly with our employees, not through an intermediary'. Amidst solidarity statements from AFL-CIO, Germany unions have announced the strikes will continue in 2014.
English: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/german-amazon-workers-protest ...
http://www.internetretailer.com/2013/12/19/german-workers-take-their-wage-protest ...

Koenig and Bauer (KBA), manufacturer of printing presses, is to cut up to 460 jobs in Moedling and Ternitz, Lower Austria. This is part of a European-wide restructuring programme that includes the transfer of the sheetfed offset press programme to the German plant of Radebeul, where it is to be concentrated. Trade unions worry that the downsizing will lead to the complete closure of the Austrian sites within the next years.
English: http://www.printweek.com/print-week/news ...
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emcc/erm/factsheets ...

In a dispute over the closure of a pension scheme at the retailer more than 2,000 workers went on strike having voted almost unanimously to take industrial action. According to the trade unions, management has attempted to open two of the smaller outlets in Athlone and Navan using temporary, seasonal staff. The company's defined benefit pension scheme was shut down by the company on October 31st with two weeks' notice to staff. Other workers concerns included plans to drop the Sunday pay rate, the elimination of a Christmas bonus and a reduction in numbers of section managers. After an emergency hearing at the labour court the labour court's recommendation was accepted by the unions and the actions were suspended.
English: http://www.siptu.ie/media/pressreleases2013/featurednews ...
http://www.mandate.ie/News/Mandate/997/marks-spencer-workers-vote-overwhelmingly ...
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1211/492318-marks-and-spencer-strike/
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/retail-and-services/m-s-stores-close ...

The government has started a consultation that will last 12 weeks on the use of zero-hours contracts. However, the responsible cabinet member ruled out a complete ban on zero-hours contracts from the start, saying the contracts had a place in the labour market even though there had been evidence of abuse of rights as they offered employers `welcome flexibility'. Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee regular work for employees. Business leaders welcomed the move not to ban zero-hours contracts but the trade unions bosses accused the government of being `desperately short on solutions' to restrict their use. The unions added that zero-hours contracts are only part of the problem with today's precarious employment and irregular work patterns.
English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25442506
http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/gmb-on-zero-hours-contracts

Members of the trade union confederation of Public Workers Unions (KESK) and affiliated unions went on strike under the slogan: `We do not accept the sales contract! We want our rights from the budget!' Public sector workers answering to the call assembled in Istanbul at €apa and Sirkeci. The protesters carried empty shoe boxes, in reference to the shoe boxes full of dollars discovered during the corruption operations.
English: http://www.diclehaber.com/2/25/1/viewNews/376186