Air freight carrier Cargolux has announced it is unilaterally repudiating the collective agreement that was planned to be in force until the end of 2012. Unions have reacted furiously, stating that the repudiation of existing collective agreements undermines the entire collective bargaining system. Cargolux has been suffering from large financial losses, as reported in the September newsletter, and wants to negotiate an agreement that corresponds to its current difficulties. Cargolux denied earlier rumours that it is outsourcing 450 jobs to Qatar. A meeting between Cargolux and the government failed to deliver any guarantees against outsourcing or for job security. Subsequently, unions have announced a protest for 15 November.
English: http://www.wort.lu/en/view/unions-in-uproar-after-cargolux-repudiates . http://www.wort.lu/en/view/cargolux-president-calls-outsourcing-rumours-nonsense . http://www.wort.lu/en/view/cargolux-staff-to-protest-on-november-13-50857a6ae4b .
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The latest anti-austerity rally drew a record-number of over a 150,000 people to London. The organising Trade Union Congress told media that the cut backs are leading to lower wages and worse working conditions, whilst failing to improve the economic condition of the country. Rallies were also organised in Belfast and Glasgow.
English: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom .
The creation of a minimum wage in Slovenia can be traced back to 1995, when a broad tripartite agreement set down a pay policy for companies and organisations. It was not long before demands to legally determine the minimum wage were introduced, and since then workers have seen regular rises. In 2010, unions forced the government to look again at how minimum wage rates were set and negotiated a substantial increase.
English: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2012/09/articles/si1209011i.htm
The general strike against Madrid's austerity program in November will coincide with a similar strike in neighbouring Portugal to make it the first concerted Iberian labour action. However, the country's second largest trade union UGT has decided not to join the strike.
English: http://www.dw.de/november-sees-first-pan-iberian-anti-austerity-strike/a-16319599 http://www.algarveresident.com/0-49451/algarve/iberian-peninsula-calls-general-strike
Uni Global and IndustriALL have started a European alliance to coordinate the trade union representation of Hewlett Packard (HP) workers in ten different countries. Earlier this year, HP announced it would be reducing its global workforce by 29000 jobs, 8000 of which would have to come from Europe. HP has made a number of national announcements about layoffs, but failed to provide clarity about how many jobs would be shed in which countries.
English: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/uni.nsf/pages/homepageEn?OpenDocument&ex .
The association for integration and migration has launched a campaign calling attention to the vulnerable working conditions of foreign domestic workers in Czech households. The campaign `Do you know who cleans your house?' focuses on the lack of fundamental and workers' rights that migrants with poor language skills in informal workplaces often experience. The campaign spots targets families employing domestic helps and encourages to treat them with dignity and reflect on the working conditions they are offered.
English: http://www.radio.cz/en/section/panorama/do-you-know-who-cleans-your-house-1
A unified trade union front has initiated actions at the Otis plant in Groot-Bijgaarden. The aim is to reduce work pressure and to force the management to the negotiation table. The management has relocated people in recent months without any consultation. Key issue in the dispute is the plan to reduce the introduction period of new technicians during which mentorship is guaranteed from 6 months to 4 weeks.
Dutch: http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF20111018_022 http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/996/Economie/article/detail/1510338/2012/10/.
On 18 October the second general strike within two weeks took place in protest against a new round of austerity cuts aimed to unlock another instalment of financial aid. The strike mobilised over 70,000 people; public services, schools, hospitals and shops were closed and flights were grounded. While the number of injuries remained limited, the atmosphere of the general strikes is turning grimmer at each demonstration. Protesters threw petrol bombs, rocks and bottles, police responded with teargas and stun grenades. The protestors got some support from the Council of Europe, who ruled in a non-binding judgement that it considers some of the reforms illegal, as these violate workers' rights.
English: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/10/12/greeces-labor-unions-call-oct-18-strike/ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/greece-20th-general-strike-in-two-1386143 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/world/europe/greek-workers-hold-national-strike .
http://www.cnbc.com/id/49472444
Employers in the staffing industry and trade union LO have closed a new collective agreement that will affect 60,000 workers and last until April 2015. The agreement includes a guaranteed hourly wage for temporary workers who are not placed but are working or in training. Under the new tariff skilled workers are paid SEK 108 (approximately €12.56 per hour) and unskilled workers SEK 100 per hour (approximately €11.63 per hour).ÿ
English: http://www.staffingindustry.com/eng/content/view/full/72028
The global pension rater, Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, has awarded the Danish's pension scheme an overall index value score of 82.9, leapfrogging the Dutch at 78.9. It became the first system ever to be classified as an `A-grade' system. The annual analysis looked at the pension systems of 18 countries. The top placing is largely the result of some competent decisions in the political arena and there has been a disposition to save up in the correct, long-term manner.
English: http://cphpost.dk/news/national/danish-pension-system-rated-worlds-best