Collective Bargaining

NITO, the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists, has for 2011 secured a major wage increase for those of its approximately 66,000 members who figured in the list of members in both 2011 and 2010. Its members only negotiate locally. In 2011, the average wage increase was 5.1% in the private sector, while wages for NITO members rose by 6.1%. In comparison, the Norwegian inflation forecast for 2011 is 1.5%. This solid increase of real wages is partly a consequence of the country's shortage of engineers.
English: message on EUCOBAN network of EMF / EFFAT / ETUF-TCL / EMCEF

On 12 December, MTVA (Hungarian State Television) in-house union chief Bal zs Navarro Nagy and union vice-president Aranka Sz vuly went on hunger strike opposite the channel's headquarters on Saturday 31 December to protest government meddling in news programmes. On Tuesday 27 December, MTVA announced that the two journalists were fired, arguing that the two had breached the media law and the public media code banning all expression of political opinion. According to Navarro Nagy, MTVA tried to fire the two reporters a few weeks ago but failed without the trade unions' support.
English: M t‚ Komiljovics, union correspondent; http://www.thenewage.co.za/38932-1020-53-Hungarian_TV_sacks_journos_striking ...

The government has outlined a scheme to disaffected junior doctors aimed at improving wages across the medical profession, the head of the Hungarian Residents' Association told reporters. After a meeting lasting over three hours with Miklos Szocska, the state secretary for health affairs, Magor Papp said the government's offer could lead to a genuine improvement in 2012, but he refused to elaborate on its details. "Nothing has been decided yet, but progress has been made to prevent a human resources disaster," Papp said. Doctors dissatisfied over low pay and tight health budgets had started their protest demanding that the salaries for doctors should be three times the national average, targeting a monthly net HUF 200,000 (?642) for junior doctors and HUF 300,000 (?964) for specialists.
English: M t‚ Komiljovics, union correspondent

In reaction on the mobilisation of higher pay in the health sector, Health Minister Leos Heger has argued that a large pay raise for hospital doctors would spark similar demands from other healthcare staff. He called the doctors` demands a "pipe dream." Heger argued that the budget increases in the end would double compared to the increases caused by the doctors' demands. The minister threatened that a state of emergency could be declared by the regional governors if the doctors follow through with their threat to leave. It could be imposed for a maximum of 30 days and would oblige doctors to fulfill their professional duties wherever the authorities dictate (See also this Collective Bargaining Newsletter Year 4 October and November 2011).
English: http://www.ceskapozice.cz/en/news/politics-policy/health-minister-doctors ...

By regulation as of 27 December, the government has increased by 1 January 2012 the minimum wage from HUF 78,000 to HUF 92,000 (?296) per month, or by 18%. At the same time the so-called guaranteed wage minimum has been lifted from HUF 94,000 to HUF 108,000 (?347) monthly, or by nearly 15%. This latter minimum is established for those who have at least secondary education or secondary professional education and perform work which requires at least secondary professional education.
English: message of Szilvia Borb‚ly, MARMOL research Budapest

In the second quarter 2011 the average hourly wage for female workers in the Finnish manufacturing industry was €13.70, against an average €16.14 for males, implying a gender wage gap of 15.1%. In one year the gap has slightly narrowed: in the second quarter of 2010 it was 15.6%, though with 15.0% it was already lower in the fourth quarter of 2006. Across industries, in 2011 the largest gender pay gaps were in the chemical industry (17.4%) and in energy supply (16.5%), the smallest in the paper industry (8.3%), the rubber industry (7.7%), and the paper&board product industry (5.0%). With 14.1%, the gap in the large technology industry was somewhat below average.
English: http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2011/o54http://www.artto.kaapeli.fi/unions/T2007/k21

For the upcoming collective bargaining round, concerning the renewal of about 200 of all 700 collective agreements, the main three employers' associations have planned a tough stand on a number of issues. According to confidential recommendations of the VNO-NCW employers' organisation to its members, supported by AWVN and MKB, they want minimal wage increases, and if any, these should not count for building pension rights: a major breach with existing practice. The employers also want larger possibilities for flexible staffing and wage hikes adapted to economic conditions, with for example hikes only payable at the end of the agreed period depending on company performance. Both the largest union confederation, FNV, and the MHP union confederation have reacted negatively, arguing that the employers' position will undermine purchasing power and will only aggravate the economic crisis.
Dutch: De Volkskrant, 28 and 29 December 2011; NRC-Handelsblad, 28 December 2011

The new Partido Popular government has written the union confederations announcing that it will freeze the yearly statutory minimum wage to 14 monthly payments of €641.40, according to the El Pais newspaper. It will be the first time that the minimum salary will not rise in a year since its inception in 1980. Angry union leaders emphasize that the Spanish minimum wage is already set relatively low.
English: http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n267398

An agreement signed by unions has ended an eleven-day strike by security staff at the Paris Charles de Gaulle and Lyon Saint-Exupery airports. The presidents of four unions agreed a €1,000 annual bonus for employees, as well as the employer's promise to assess and improve working conditions and an assurance of job security in the event of a change of service provider. Workers had demanded a wage increase of €200 per month as well as better working conditions. The CGT union has not yet signed the deal but has said it will consult its members.
English: http://connexionfrance.com/france-union-airport-strike-end-deal ... via http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=France

The three metalworkers' unions, FIOM-CGIL, FIM-CISL and UILM, on 12 December organised a successful three-hour strike. The unions were protesting against social injustice and attacks on workers' rights, and demanded an effective industrial policy to safeguard jobs. The metalworkers' strike was the kick-off to a week of mobilisation called by the CGIL, CISL and UIL union confederations against the new government's economic manoeuvres. Graphical workers went on strike on 13 December, public transport workers on 15 and 16 December, banking and insurance sector employees on 16 December, the civil service on 19 December, and telecom workers on 22 December.
English: message on EUCOBAN network of EMF / EFFAT / ETUF-TCL / EMCEF