Collective Bargaining

The tripartite talks did not end in an accord on an increase in the minimum wage as of 2014 at a session of the Economic and Social Council (HSR). If the tripartite does not reach an agreement, the government will discuss a proposal from the ministry to increase the minimum wage 2.4% as of 2014. This would mean a rise from €337.70 to €349.50. Meanwhile, the trade unions suggest that the wage be increased by 8% as of 2014. Employers, for their part, oppose any increase whatsoever.
English: http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/51002/10/tripartite_fails_to_strike_deal ...

The government has formulated an 8-point plan to stimulate re-emigration. The plan stipulates setting up an institution with representations in all regions to provide information and consultation on various matters connected with moving to or residing in Latvia, ensuring the availability of labour market information and attracting a highly qualified labour force. According to a survey 72% of the population doubts that the re-emigration plan will be successful.
English: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/33249/
http://newswave.eu/72-of-latvian-residents-doubt-that-re-emigration-plan-will-be-successful/

At the recommendation of the ministerial committee for the employment of third country nationals, the government has announced it will cut the fixed salary of foreign domestic workers by 5%, reducing gross salaries from €484 to €460. The cut reduces net salaries from €326 to €314.The government also announced it will terminate the indexation of the cost of living allowance for domestic workers.
English: http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/08/10/pitifully-paid-domestic-workers-have-wages-cut ...
Focus on wage developments in Cyprus: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/country/cyprus ...

European Commissioner Olli Rehn provoked Spain's unions, employer groups and political parties with a blog piece he published. In the blog, Rehn appeared to give his support to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) model which would see Spain slashing wages by 10% to trigger economic growth and tackle unemployment. Later on an EC official said these prescriptive measures were already contained in the EC's country-specific recommendations, adding that these had been accepted by Spain. That document advises to bring the budget deficit below 3% of GDP by 2016 through `expenditure restraint' and `revenue-increasing' measures. The trade unions said Rehn's statements were completely unacceptable both because the IMF proposal wouldn't help the country emerge from the crisis and for the suffering the plan would cause.
English: http://www.thelocal.es/20130809/eu-backs-officials-spain-wage-cut-comments

Overcoming a chaotic end-stage of bargaining, LCGB and OGBL have signed collective agreements with both Cargolux and Luxair, with new negotiations already looming. Earlier, LCGB reached a partial agreement with Cargolux, while OGBL refused to back any incomplete agreement, citing lack of trust in the word of Cargolux management. The Cargolux agreement includes a renewal until 31 December 2014 of the collective agreement that was repudiated by Cargolux in October 2012 (see October newsletter). The agreement also establishes a working group for each Cargolux service to assess possible gains in productivity. Both unions will be members of all working groups and any proposals coming out of one of the groups will have to be approved by the bargaining committee that will amend the collective agreement when approving a measure. Meanwhile, OGBL and LCGB have signed an agreement with Luxair extending the current collective agreement until 30 September 2013 and agreeing to repudiate it by then in favour of a new agreement. In preparation, working groups will be established to identify possible efficiency gains for the company.
English: http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online ...
http://www.wort.lu/en/view/trust-issues-halt-cargolux-collective-agreement ...
http://www.wort.lu/en/view/luxair-and-unions-concur-on-collective-working-agreement ...

The Estonian Trade Unions' Confederation (ETUC) has begun talks with the Finnish Trade Union for Construction Workers to create a joint organisation. The aim is to provide Estonian construction workers similar help as the Finns offer. Though the discussion is in the initial stage, the confederation has already started to look for contacts that would help create a trade union with considerable influence and a good services package. Several major branches of labour are not covered by trade unions in Estonia, notably the banking and construction sectors.
English: http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/33266/

Trade unions and the ministry of health are making little progress in collective agreement negotiations that are supposed to be finished by the end of August. Health unions coming out of a new bargaining round report no concrete points were yet discussed, as the ministry has not presented any updated proposals. The unions said they would consider industrial action if talks fail to yield a collective agreement.
English: http://dalje.com/en-croatia/no-progress-on-collective-agreement-negotiations ...

The series of strikes at mail order company Amazon, reported in the June newsletter, continue as workers fight for collective bargaining rights. Amazon currently employs around 9000 workers in Germany, most of which have short term contracts or work via temporary work agencies. The company has refused to enter collective bargaining negotiations with its employees or to classify them as retail employees, which would bring the workers under the sector wide collective agreement applied by the other mail order companies. With the dispute on wages at Amazon as a striking example the NY Times reports on the antipathy to organised labour among imported American-style business practices. Amazon has been criticised for its working conditions in the United States - but not nearly to the same extent as in Europe. Amazon's tactics, along with its refusal to even enter into talks with the unions, created an image of being against its own workforce that could hurt it in the long run.
English: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/uni.nsf ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/business/workers-of-amazon-divergent ...

Miners will go out on strike after a tragic death of four of their co-workers. Four workers at the Oranovo coal mines perished after a deadly collapse that is believed to have been caused by poor maintenance of the facility. Trade union Podkrepa plans to block highways and roads. Consultations will be launched to decide on the timing of the rallies, which might be called after the end of Parliament's recess, September 4. Coal producing companies work under net losses, which affects both technologies used and workers' safety. According to Podkrepa, some of the demands of miners might require new legislation to better regulate the business, because companies are trying to cut their spending. During an extraordinary meeting with the economy and energy ministry, earlier this summer, the trade unions expressed their fear that 3,500 jobs might get lost in the mining industry. A spokesperson of Podkrepa said that the output of the Maritsa Iztok Mines by July 2014 was expected to register a nearly two-fold decrease to the level of 17 M tones. In Western Bulgaria, all mines except a part of the Pernik Mines and the open pit mine in Bobov Dol will be closed. This will lead to the loss of over 3500 jobs.
English: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=152464
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=152631

The ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has announced it will make available €600 million for projects tackling unemployment if the social partners are prepared to contribute an equal amount to the programme. Trade unions and employers associations have been asked to submit realistic plans against unemployment, targeted towards the worst hit groups of employees, regions and sectors. Young people, older workers and disabled people are among the target groups. The plans will be assessed by an action team, comprised to representatives from the social partners, municipalities and the unemployment office.
English: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2013/07/articles/nl1307039i.htm