The parliament passed a bill which will see up to 15,500 public-sector workers laid off by 2015. The job cuts are part of the conditions set by the EU and IMF in return for €8.8 billion in emergency loans. About 2,000 civil servants will be laid off by the end of May 2013, with another 2,000 following by the end of the year and a further 11,500 by end-2014, for a total of 15,500. The legislation is the latest wave of the country's severe austerity program. Several hundred demonstrators outside the parliament took part in a protest called by civil servants' union ADEDY, and the private sector GSEE union.
English: http://www.france24.com/en/20130429-greece-job-cuts-civil-service-austerity ...
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Teachers from state schools throughout the country were locked out in a dispute over hours spent teaching. The government and employers have said teachers need to spend more hours teaching, leaving fewer hours for preparations. Teachers unions have demanded a 25 hour cap on teaching and condemned the government intervention in the negotiations as going against the Nordic model. The government, in turn, have defended the need to prolong the school day in order to improve children's performance. Protesting the lock-out, teachers have formed a 35 kilometre line between two cities. It is expected that the government will intervene to put an end to the school lockout that has stretched to four weeks.
English: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22014697
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22089337
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2530
http://cphpost.dk/news/national/government-poised-end-school-lockout-1
In a doctoral thesis (Discussions on hired temporary labour) by Liisa Lhteenmki it is prescribed how public discourse on temporary work agencies changed from the beginning of 1990's until 2005. She analysed the news from the national newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and the minutes of parliament as well as the minutes and reports of parliament's Employment and Equality Committee. The author criticises trade unions for being slow to recognise the problems in the status of agency labour. Recently, unions have become more active, and one reason behind it has been the increase of foreign agency labour at work places, she concludes. Unions have noticed that employers often prefer agency labour to temporary employment relations as it is easier to get rid of agency labour than employees in temporary employment relations.
English: http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2013/q17
http://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/87692
The government intends to propose changes to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) mechanism to better `bring it in line with EU expectations'. Changes to the COLA mechanism have always been controversial since the social partners are divided on the issue. While trade unions have been firm against any changes to the system, employers have been lobbying for a total revamp so that increases in wages will not continue to be automatically pegged to the cost of living index. The latter position is said to be preferred by the European Commission.
English: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130427/local/COLA-may-be-changed ...
After the teachers unions were the first to oppose the new Croke Park deal, 290,000 public sector workers refused the Croke Park II cuts by voting ballot. The agreement collapsed after a majority of 14 public sector unions refused the Croke Park deal, which involved longer working hours, pay cuts for higher paid employees and freezes on increments. The Government has announced it will seek further negotiations and renewed its commitment to find a deal. In the absence of the deal, the Government is expected to seek the wanted budget cuts through compulsory redundancies, which will certainly lead to nationwide protests. Public servants face pay cuts and a permanent freeze on increments if they fail to conclude a deal to reduce the public sector pay bill. They will also lose protection from outsourcing and compulsory redundancy.
English: http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0403/379532-asti-exams/
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0418/382047-pseu-warns-over-industrial-action-if-pay-cuts/
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0423/385076-siptu-promissory-note/
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0427/386928-croke-park/
After declining an invitation to collective bargaining earlier this month, Turkish Airlines agreed to talks when union members voted in favour of strike actions. Trade union Hava-Is, of which 14,000 of the airline's 15,800 workers are members, called on Turkish Airlines to resolve their disagreements through collective negotiations. One of the outstanding issues is the union's demand to undo the dismissal of 305 workers who participated in a strike in May 2012, as reported in this newsletter.
English: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-airlines-and-workers-to-talk ...
Following the proceedings initiated by the CGT metalworkers' trade union and the Aulnay-Sous-Bois affiliate of the SUD trade union the Paris District Court on 26 April 2013 ruled that the group is allowed to pursue the industrial reorganisation project and its implementation after the next meeting of the Central Works Council, scheduled for 29 April 2013. The redundancy plan has been the subject of a social dialogue and was approved after ten negotiation sessions by an agreement signed by five trade unions (CFDT, CFE/CGC, CFTC, FO et GSEA).
English: http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com/en/media/press-releases/paris-district-court ...
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/us-psa-judge ...
The Statistics Department released data that reveal that the country's official unemployment rate has fallen from 15.3% in 2011 to 13.2% in 2012. This percentage is still above the EU average and the true figure is thought to be much higher as many people prefer to engage in seasonal work abroad instead of registering unemployed at home. In the meantime a proposed minimum wage reform is still under discussion.
English: http://www.equaltimes.org/news/what-changes-will-lithuanian-education-reforms ...
A strike by members of the Swedish Transport Workers' Union (STWU) was called off after just 45 minutes yesterday following agreement with the Swedish Road Transport Employers Association (SRTEA) on a new contract for workers. The new agreement for port and road haulage workers has been agreed for 37 months and corresponds to the contract that the industrial sector has signed. It stipulates a three step wage increase.
English: http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/8869
http://www.goteborgdaily.se/news/transport-workers-call-off-strike
Members of the socialist trade union confederation ABVV/FGTB have held a national day of action to back their demands for equal employment rights for blue and white collar workers. Other demands were related to job security and quality, a decent economic recovery policy and fair and progressive taxation.
English: http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/videozone_ENG ...
French: http://www.groups.be/1_61757.htm http://www.abvv.be/web/guest/home-fr