Employees of Finnair technical services went on strike on 5 June, protesting a decision to outsource engine services to Swiss company SR Technics, expected to lead to 280 job losses at Finnair. In a controversial decision, a Helsinki district court judge struck down the strike, also threatening a 2.8 million fine if the strike continued illegally. Union representatives criticised the ruling, protesting amongst others against the fact that union representatives were not heard in court, and announced a union appeal. Legal experts denounced the ruling claiming the district court did not have jurisdiction in industrial conflicts and that the fine set exceeded the legal maximum tenfold. The labour court subsequently decreased the fine to €19,500 plus employers' legal costs, but did not rule on the legality of the district court injunction.
English: http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1338989374.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/14/finnair-strike-idUSL5E8HEC9P20120614
http://yle.fi/uutiset/union_appeals_finnair_strike_injunction/6169141
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Judge+orders+Finnair+technical+staff+back+to+work ...
http://yle.fi/uutiset/labour_court_fines_unions_for_finnair_strike/6187515
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Members of GMB and Unite unions at Ford have organised a 24 hour strike after talks over pay rates and pensions broke down. In an attempt to avoid the strike, management and unions met but were unable to resolve the conflict. The unions object to the proposed lower pay rate for new employees and their exclusion from the pension fund. Ford also refused to give guarantees that it will not close the pension fund. The walkout at Ford is the first since the 1980s.
English: http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/latest_news/gmb_strike_at_fords.aspx
Workers at metal container manufacturer Crown Cork in Sevilla have started industrial action in reaction to the company's refusal to negotiate a new collective agreement. The collective agreement that is currently being applied formally expired in 2008 but four years of talks have not led to a new agreement. The workers went on strike in the beginning of May and unions report a 100% mobilisation. Unions have also called for the support of other unions, asking employees of Spanish and foreign companies that make use of Crown Cork's services to suspend their contracts until the company management gets back to the negotiation table.
English and French: http://www.eucoban.eu/EMF/Reports/Conflict-in-Crown-Cork-in-Sevilla
A group of non-tenure foreign language teachers, instructing university students in their mother tongue, has reiterated its longstanding demands for equal treatment. The so-called `lettori', all of them foreigners, have repeatedly claimed (and proved in court) that their separate treatment is discriminatory and a violation of single market legislation. Hoping for Prime Minister Monti's sympathy as a former EU Commissioner, the group has re-launched its campaign.
English: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/world/europe ...
Talks between Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority and trade unions over the multi-employer pension scheme, Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS), broke down. Employers and unionists described the gap between their respective demands as `unbridgeable'. So far, no new meeting has been scheduled, yet the resolution of the pension conflict is imperative for the government, which cannot sell its 25% stakes in Aer Lingus until then.Unions fear the airline plans to relocate its technical services currently based at Shannon airport and have announced strikes if it comes to that. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus' request in front of the court to reduce its capital by 500 million ahead of a final ruling got side tracked when the judge admitting the case to the commercial division of the High Court expressed concerns over the 700 million deficit in the pension scheme and refused any changes until more clarity existed regarding the pension scheme.
English: http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0607/aer-lingus-and-daa-pension-talks ...
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0611/judge-raises-concerns-about-aer-lingus-pension.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/17/us-aerlingus-strike-idUSBRE85G0FT20120617
After lengthy and tough negotiations, including a 24-hour strike on Thursday 7th of June, Tyne and Wear Metro unions and owner NEXUS reached a pay deal. The deal means the looming strike for the 21st of June is called off. Unions and employers agreed to a pay offer of 2.1% or a 520 pay increase, whichever is the greater, up to 3%, a 300 payment, plus a one-off bonus payment of 200 and additional travel benefits. The pay rise will have to be financed through efficiency cuts elsewhere in the organization.
English: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2012/06/09 ...
http://www.aslef.org.uk/information/133080/aslef_drivers_in_action ...
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-18454424
The national opera chorus trade union had called a strike for 8 June from 7 p.m. onwards. Talks with management failed to resolve the conflict that centres on low salaries, heavy workload and improper contracts. Management went to court that ruled that the proposed strike was illegal. The ruling cannot be appealed. Meanwhile the trade union has called the managing director to resign.
English: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=58798
The supervisory board of the energy company Eesti Energia decided to reject a proposal to increase sharply the salary of its CEO. The proposal to increase the salary with €20,000 a month was rejected because the majority of the board said that the changes that had taken place in the company did not justify such a rapid increase in management board salaries.
English: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/energy/?doc=58715
General Motors' lossmaking subsidiary Opel has outlined a plan that foresees an eventual end to production at its plant in Bochum softened by the extension of a no-layoff guarantee for all its German workers for two more years through 2016. One key concession from the IG Metall union and employee representatives would be to agree to delay a 4.3% pay increase won this year in industry-wide negotiations.
English: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/opel-working-with-unions-on ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/business/global/opel-and-german-workers ...
President Rosen Plevneliev has vetoed a set of amendments to the Judiciary act that would automatically promote members of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), its inspectorate and their staff when their term expired. The amendments containing the so-called `career-bonus' were sent back to Parliament for new debates and revision. The veto is said to come at the urging of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who previously stated he would not comment on procedures regulating an independent judicial branch. Other amendments not concerning the career-bonus, such as the appointment of new members of the VSS and the Chief Prosecutor, were not included in the veto.
English: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140318
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140301