Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining between Trk Metal Union and Turk Metal Industrialists' Union (MESS) has come to a deadlock. The trade union is considering a strike within 60 days and has warned that workers will protest against the employers through several actions in the meantime. The negotiations on the collective agreement concern 115,000 workers employed in Turkey's top automotive, white goods, electronic and iron and steel industries, in addition to other large sectors and public servants' labour agreements. It is the largest and most significant collective labour agreement. The union is demanding an 18% increase to every worker's salary for a six-month period.
English: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/115000-workers-mull-strike ...

The white-collar trade union Unionen has formulated ten tips for earning a higher salary. First thing is to check if the workplace has a collective bargaining agreement. A great deal of companies in the country has this arrangement, which could be a key difference for people coming in from another country. There aren't laws governing wages, because the labour market model is dominated by a central wage contract - where the unions collectively agree bargains with employers' organisations. The second structure is the local wage contract where employees go on to make a deal with their specific company. This deal is not allowed to include worse working conditions or lower wages than the industry-wide central wage contract. The third level, the individual wage contract has the potential for more leverage, but workers need to make sure that their actual job contract states they have the right to renegotiate.
English: http://www.thelocal.se/jobs ...

The government is due to consult employers and trade unions through to parliament's summer recess on an overhaul of France's pension system, a reform seen as vital to sorting out French public finances. The started consultations will not give them a say in a draft law due in the second half of the year as was the case with labour market rules agreed in January (the upper house of Parliament just passed these labour market rules). France will see a 20 billion euros annual shortfall in its pension system by 2020 if it does not act. The government has ruled out increasing the legal retirement age beyond 62, but said that extending the pay-in period beyond the current 41.5 years is all but inevitable. Two other options include raising the level of contributions to the retirement system and paring down pay-outs by limiting how much pensions are adjusted for inflation. In the meantime
English: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/05/13/uk-france-pensions ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/world/europe/french-lawmakers-loosen-labor-rules ...

Thousands of students and teachers staged a strike across Spain on Thursday to protest government austerity measures and a planned new education reforms. Teachers are working in very limited conditions with less time and fewer teachers than before. The stoppage affected all levels of education and union pickets were placed at many schools and universities across the country. Organisers claimed a 65% turnout by teachers for the strike, while the Education Ministry put the figure at 19%.
English: http://www.eitb.com/en/news ...

In separate ballots RMT members working on the Tube have voted for strike action over a host of industrial issues. Staff on the Piccadilly Line voted 9:1 for action in response to London Underground riding roughshod over agreements and abusing a range of agreed policies and procedures. Drivers at a range of depots serving the Hammersmith and City, Metropolitan and Circle Lines voted to take action over disputes arising from the introduction of new trains. Tube cleaners working for Danish multi-national ISS on London Underground Tube Lines contract by 100% for strike action in a dispute over pay and workplace justice and electricians and engineers working for contractors Mitie on the TFL contract have voted by around 9:1 one for action in a dispute over redundancies and unilateral changes to working conditions.
English: http://union-news.co.uk/2013/05/breaking-massive-yes-vote-for-four-tube-strikes/

NSI, the statistical office has updated the figures on employment and pay. In the first quarter of 2013 the average monthly wages and salaries decreased by 3.1% in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2012. The highest decrease in wages and salaries was reported in `arts, entertainment and recreation' (-17.9%), `education' (-10.1%) and in `professional, scientific and technical activities' (-7.2%). Compared to the 1st quarter of 2012, the average monthly wages and salaries in the 1st quarter of 2013 rose by 4.3%. At the end of March 2013, as compared to March 2012, the number of employees under direct employment contracts declined by 24.9 thousands or 1.1%. The highest decrease in absolute figures was observed in manufacturing and in accommodation and food service activities.
English: http://www.nsi.bg/EPDOCS/EmplsSalary2013 ...

Around 900 employees in the state-owned and insolvent chemical producer Oltchim will be laid off, 600 of whom will be from the main company in Ramnicu Valcea, and 300 from a subsidiary near Pitesti. The number of people who need to be laid off is a maximum of 1,050, and was established based on the minimum amount that needs to be saved on salary costs.
English: http://www.romania-insider.com/romanias-insolvent-oltchim-to-layoff ...

The Supreme Court has declared the Registered Employment Agreements, which set pay rates for certain sectors, unconstitutional. In a significant judgment affecting several employment sectors, the court ruled such agreements are incompatible with the constitution as these delegated law-making powers beyond the Parliament (Oireachtas). The challenge to the REAs was taken by electrical contractors, who welcomed the decision. The electricians' trade union TEEU has said the decision does not overturn existing pay rates and conditions. However, the electrical contractors group, the NECI, said the judgment means all current agreements `are cancelled'.
English: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0509/391278-court-finds-employment ...

In an ILO video it is said that recovery in Europe is being hampered by the fact that many of the workers who lost their jobs to the crisis do not have the skills that the labour market demands. The interviews indicate that vocational training programmes help keep youth connected to the labour market by ensuring they have the skills that companies are looking for.
English: http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/multimedia ...

According to a retiring head of the Trade Union Confederation the country has a long way to go until it reaches the level of trade unions in Scandinavia. It's not enough just to pay 1% of your salaries to trade unions in membership fees. `People must want to protect their interests. This is where we are way behind,' he said. Scandinavian countries have launched series of actions aimed at strengthening trade union movement in the Baltic countries.
English: http://balticbusinessnews.com/article/2013/5/6/trade-union-leaders-estonians ...