A referendum on 22 September 2013 has resulted in a 55.8% backing of the proposal to change the labour laws by opening the possibility for night shopping at petrol stations. As reported in the July/August 2013 Newsletter the trade unions acted against the proposal in a coalition with medical experts and the churches because they see it as a further step in the direction of a 24-hours economy. In their view a minority of 44% no-voters demonstrates that the resistance to further liberalisation of working hours and to an introduction of work at night is strong. The fear is that the door is now open for further liberalisation of working hours in the retail sector.
English: https://www.ch.ch/en/results-vote-22092013/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_referendums,_2013
German: http://www.admin.ch/ch/d ...
https://www.ch.ch/de/resultate-abstimmung-22-september-2013/
http://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/abstimmungen ...
French: http://www.admin.ch/ch/f ...
https://www.ch.ch/fr/resultats-votation-22092013/
http://www.travailsuisse.ch/medias/communiques_de_presse
Search results
Find articles
A nationwide annual salary and market forecast survey by Fontes shows that wages have been increasing this year faster than in any of the past five years. The study shows that basic monthly wages have increased in average 9%. Wage expectations of people are growing, regardless of whether they are earning lower and higher wages. A survey of job advertisements made in the 2nd quarter of 2013 shows that in average, enterprises offered employees €963 a month, an increase of 24.4% year compared to the corresponding period a year ago. It's also 13% higher than in the 1st quarter. Analysts say that that the growth in the 2nd quarter was financed mainly by the increase in corporate profits. According to Wages and Salaries Statistic Survey published by Statistic Estonia the wages and salaries in the 2nd quarter increased 8.5% on year.
English: http://news.postimees.ee/1371042/survey-pay-offers-increase-24-pct-on-year-in-q2
http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2013/9/4/estonian-analyst-wage-growth-funded ...
http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2013/9/12/expert-wage-expecations-higher-than ...
The three largest trade unions, Trade Unions Forum (FZZ), the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) and the NSZZ Solidarnosc, have organised a four-day demonstration against the government's labour market policies. The unions demand a withdrawal of a law that will make more flexible contracts possible, the rejection of the pension reform that will increase the retirement age to 67 and a higher pay for workers across the board. The demonstrations are estimated to have mobilised up to 100,000 people.
English: http://www.industriall-union.org/polish-unions-in-mass-demonstrations-condemning-government-policy
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/polish-unionists-march-government-policy-20256309
http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/147250,Unionists-hold-protest-finale-in-Warsaw
According to an analysis by the Financial Policy Institute (IFP) which runs under the Finance Ministry the clients of the companies managing funds within the country's second, privately administered pension pillar have not earned as much money as they could. The analysis compared profits in the second pension pillar scheme with the performance of similar investments abroad.
English: http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/51307/10/second_pillar_pension_fund ...
Carmaker FIAT has invited the trade union FIOM to appoint their representatives at the enterprise after the Constitutional Court's corner stone decision, which declared that unions should not be discriminated based on their decision to refuse signing a collective agreement (see also the July/August Newsletter). The decision resulted from a continuous fight by the FIOM in numerous court cases for nearly three years.
English: http://www.industriall-union.org/fiom-representatives-are-back-at-fiat
Head office staff at the state-owned bank EBS could begin strike action after talks between trade unions and management at the Labour Relations Commission broke down. At the heart of the dispute is a bonus payment known as the `13-month' that was paid to staff at the EBS Building Society before it was bailed out by taxpayers and the merger with AIB. The strike was called off after EBS agreed to pay the 13th month bonuses dating back to 2011 along with the October salaries. The EBS workers will receive at least €789 in bonuses now.
English: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ebs-strike-averted-as-bank-pays-bonuses ...
http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ebs-staff-could-strike-tomorrow-over-loss ...
According to a trade union spokesperson companies should be able to pay compensation to employees without incurring any related costs for the tax on bank transactions that is calculated for the payment of wages. If a solution is not forthcoming, the unions demand that employees should be paid their wages in cash to avoid the transaction fee.
English: http://www.politics.hu/20130910/union-initiates-compensation-for-transaction-fee ...
Thousands of people marched through the streets of Bucharest in one of the biggest protests against the Rosia Montana mining project since demonstrations against the use of cyanide and its impact on the environment began. Protests across the country began after the Government backed a draft bill that will allow Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) to begin extracting gold in central Romania. By classifying the project as a `special national interest', the law aims to smooth what would otherwise be a complicated legal path for the company, which is majority owned by Canadian firm Gabriel Resources. After a week of protests, a majority against the law appeared to be emerging in Parliament and members of the Government withdrew their support for the law, advising MPs to vote against it.
English: http://www.romania-insider.com/thousands-take-to-the-streets-in-bucharest ...
http://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-pm-says-rosia-montana-gold-mine-is-case ...
In a meeting of the National Council for the Economy the privatisations and other major issues concerning the forthcoming structural changes, especially on issues of health and social policy, were tabled. The Council studied in depth the government's proposal for a guaranteed minimum income and endorsed this social measure. Other suggestions that can be implemented will be discussed in depth with the Minister of Labour.
English: http://famagusta-gazette.com/cyta-eac-and-others-face-privatization-talks ...
The high school teaching trade unions have voted to hold long-term strikes against public sector staff cuts ordered by the government as part of its bailout agreements. University staff has suspended all operations for one week in protest at the staff cuts. Other universities are considering similar action. Hundreds of administrative staff members held a protest march through central Athens.
English: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/greek-teachers-strike-over-job-cuts ...