The 23rd of March general strike organised by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) hit especially hard in Lisbon and Oporto, where public transport, garbage collection and harbours were affected. The CGTP called for the general strike in protest of another austerity package to be implemented in exchange for an international bailout, imposed by the troika of European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The National Federation of Doctors also announced its support for the strike, accusing the centre right government of having launched "an offensive against the national health service". Portugal's second biggest union, UGT, did not endorse the strike and Euronews reports that while protests were intensive, the numbers of protesters were not numerous.
English: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/portuguese-cities-hit-by-general-strike . ; http://www.euronews.com/2012/03/23/portugal-strike-fails-to-rouse-workers/; http://www.theportugalnews.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=1155-22
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The favourable economic situation that prevailed in Germany in 2011 allowed trade unions to adopt a much more assertive bargaining strategy in that year's negotiating round. This led to pay settlements considerably above those in the previous year. However, consumer price inflation, at 2.3 per cent, was almost twice as high as in 2010. This and other valuable information can be read in the annual report produced by the German Hans Bckler Foundation.
English: http://www.boeckler.de/pdf/p_ta_jb_2011_english.pdf
Around 15,000 people protested against announced cuts in the provision of sheltered workplaces. The government intends to cut the 100,000 subsidised work places to 30,000. Trade unions have condemned the plan to have those who do not qualify for the leftover places work for less than the minimum wage.
English: http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/03/some_15000_demonstrate .
The Panhellenic Seamen's Union (PNO) started a strike on the 19th of March that lasted 48 hours. The seamen protested against pension cuts, changes to collective labour contracts and the absorption of their social security funds into a new national organisation. PNO announced after the second day that it would call of further strikes following a meeting with Development and Maritime Affairs Minister Anna Diamantopoulou, and Labour Minister Giorgos Koutroumanis, who offered them written responses to complaints regarding cuts to pensions and salaries.
English: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/03/16/seamen-to-hold-48-hour-strike ... and: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_20/03/2012_433855
ILO report outlines effects of austerity on social dialogue and collective bargaining
End of February 2012
In a series of national studies on collective bargaining and effective responses to the crisis `Supporting collective bargaining and sound industrial relations', the ILO has published a report on the case of Greece. The report addresses the role of collective bargaining in a context of extreme budget cuts.
English: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_dialogue/---dialogue/ .
The Czech umbrella union CMKOS has announced a demonstration in an effort to have the government either to halt the planned austerity steps or resign. CMKOS rejects the government-proposed measures such as a VAT increase, slower indexation of pensions and dismissals of civil servants. The education workers' union went already on strike alert on Friday 16 March. A coordination committee is established to address leaders of the second largest umbrella union, the Independent Unions' Association (ASO), and activists from other groups opposed to the government. The negotiations are to result in a joint rally in the Wenceslas Square on April 21.
English: http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/zpravy/czech-umbrella-union-calls .
LOT national airlines announced that the strike of 30 to 50 per cent of its employees did not affect passengers in any way. The mechanics workers of LOT aircraft maintenance services went on strike on the 19th of March protesting low pay and working conditions. Union officers have stated that staff is over-burdened by work; the protest among mechanics at the airport will last "until further notice" says the trade union.
English: http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/93669,Warsaw-airport-ground-workers .
The announced restructuring at four Bekaert plants has led to intensive negotiations on a social plan. In the fifth round a first agreement was reached on the demand to include voluntary job-leavers in the social plan provisions and to reduce these leavers from the planned dismissals (announced were 609 workers at Aalter, Deerlijk, Ingelmunster and Zwevegem). The planning is to end the talks around 30 April 2012, with management having agreed not to dismiss before that date. Different instruments (part time leave, early retirement and retraining) are considered.
Dutch: http://www.abvvmetaal.be/index.php?option=com_content&view=article& .
The trade union Gewerkschaft Bau-Holz (GBH) negotiated with the aim to keep the purchasing power upright. The results of the talks, necessary after the expiring of a 3 years agreement, lead to new increases of pay with a basic rise of 3.3% for the building industry (plus an extra bonus of 0.9 %) and the finishing sector (with a extra bonus of 0.85 %). As a consequence the pay rise is 4.2 to 4.15% for approximately 130,000 workers.
German: http://www.bau-holz.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=D01/Page/ .
In reaction to an amendment to the collective bargaining act, adopted by one of the parliamentary committees without consultation of the social partners, several unions have organised actions. Unions argue that the amendment, which allows employers to unilaterally pull out of collective agreements half a year after their expiration, fundamentally infringes on workers' rights and will weaken employees in wage re-negotiations. Amongst others the mining and transport unions, supported by the Nordic transport workers union, organised the largest actions in decades. The unions also expressed support for the teachers' strike.
English: http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/7177; http://news.err.ee/society/f505d95c-d8ac-478f-9abb-70a69205fa0c ; http://news.err.ee/economy/aa46ac4b-f28a-4981-9d80-56eff7dbf3e5
The union representing French domestic intelligence officers, those charged with counter-espionage and anti-terror investigations, called Wednesday 14 March on its members to stage a protest against the human resource management of the agency (with some 4,000 officers). The head of the SNOP union, which represents senior police officers and is the main labour body for members of the DCRI security agency, announced that his members had planned a "gathering" at the Paris headquarters on Friday 16 March. However, the union rejects any attempt to agency outsiders to make political capital out of the internal dispute.
English: http://www.canada.com/news/French+spies+stage+labour+protest/6301582/ .
Latest news: Breakthrough after all-night negotiations in the public sector
March 31, 2012
German interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich, who led the talks with the public service union Verdi, announced in Potsdam shortly before 7 a.m. on Saturday 31 March that the negotiators had reached an agreement. Verdi, representing 2 million public-sector workers, had been seeking a 6.5% rise for one year after years of accepting modest pay deals and had rejected an earlier offer of 3.3%. If the deal is approved by the union membership (members have a final say in a consultation between 11 and 25 April) public-sector workers will receive a 3.5% pay rise retroactive to March 1. They will receive a further 1.4% in January 2013 and another 1.4% pay rise in August 2013. The position of apprentices has been strengthened; after their qualification and a successful first year of service they will receive a permanent contract. Apprentices pay increases on 1 March 2012 with €50 and on 1 August 2013 with €40. The collective bargaining committee of the union approved the deal later on that Saturday.
German: http://www.verdi.de/themen/geld-tarif/tarifrunde-oed-2012/++co . ; http://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/4895901-verdi-stimmt-einigungsvorschlag .
English: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/03/31/germany-wages-idINDEE82 .