Collective Bargaining

The major trade union confederations demanded a "more humane world, in which not only money, capital, profit are important," in their demonstration on 18 April against the government's austerity measures. Some 3,000 people gathered in front of Parliament, where union leaders called for protecting jobs, and even and fair burdening of employers and employees in the economic crisis. At the end of the demonstration they handed over a petition to the government's representatives in Parliament. The day before the demonstration new prime minister Gordon Bajnai announced "strong austerity measures" of Euro 1.4 billion in expenditure cuts of in 2009, and Euro 3.7 billion next year. The measures would affect public services as well as the pension and social benefit systems. For 30 April, the Free Union of Railway Workers (VDSZSZ) has announced an 18 hours' strike in order to protest against these austerity measures.
English: http://www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/11709/159/; http://www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/11738/219

Until recently, various government ministers have reiterated their confidence in Luxembourg's ability to withstand the crisis better than other countries. Yet, the Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (OGB-L) has stated to fear that an increasing number of companies, notably in financial services and the automotive industry, will introduce redundancy programs and job cuts. Against this backdrop, the confederation has asked the government to take clear action to maintain employment or to provide training for people who are affected by a redundancy program or threatened with redundancy. OGB-L insists that everything possible must be done to retain the skills and qualifications present in the Luxembourg job market, adding that this also applies to cross-border workers.
English: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2009/02/articles/lu0902029i.htm
French and German: http://www.ogbl.lu/

By the end of March the STAL local government union signed two new agreements with local fire associations in Vila de Rei and Covilha. The agreement with the Vila de Rei association includes a pay structure setting down rates for shift work and for working on rest days and holidays. It also includes a new career framework, a range of provisions covering other allowances and annual paid leave of 25 days. The Covilha agreement also sets out the main working conditions for firefighters in terms of careers, shift systems, allowances for travel and holidays. In addition there is a Euro 74 increase in pay.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/303;
Portuguese: http://www.stal.pt/artigo.asp?id=1015

Unite, the UK's largest union, is calling on the government to put manufacturing at the heart of the budget. Unions and employers are united in demanding that the budget revealed on 22 April should contain measures to save the jobs of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing workers through the implementation of short time working compensation schemes. Unite is also calling for speedier access to credit from the banks to ensure immediate support for manufacturing businesses; extra government financing for manufacturing in keeping with the levels of assistance provided to manufacturers by competitors abroad, and action to stimulate demand, including a scrappage scheme.
English: http://www.unitetheunion.com/news__events/latest_news/unite_says_put_manufacturing_a.aspx

The president of the ABVV/FGTB trade union confederation, Rudy de Leeuw, has accused the leaders of the two main employers' associations of consciously wrecking the national agreement (interprofessional accord, IPA) for 2009-2010, and thus frustrating the basis of the Belgian social model. He gave as an example that the employers tend to pay the Euro 250 premium only to full-time employees, and not -as agreed-also to part-timers. The ABVV/FGTB president also condemned employers' pleas for a new generational pact.
Dutch: http://www.metrotime.be/nlnewsbelga.html?telexid=41524281

National negotiations between trade unions, employers and the government are set to continue despite bitter union disappointment over the government's budget and national recovery plan presented on 7 April. Unions argue that the government has failed to take any measures to protect jobs or boost provision of training while implementing social welfare cuts and imposing levies that will affect even those paid the minimum wage. The unions will try to get some movement from the government on jobs following a decision by the finance ministry to freeze public sector recruitment. "This budget is not a basis for financial solidarity", said Jack O'Connor, president of SIPTU, the country's largest union, "Workers who are now losing their jobs see no tangible measures in this budget for job maintenance" (See also this Collective Bargaining Newsletter Year 2 February 2009 and Year 2 March 2009).
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/303;
http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=214; http://www.siptu.ie/PressRoom/NewsReleases/2009/Name,10747,en.html;
http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2009/04/irish-recovery-plan-falters-over-pay-deal.htm

Cleaners' union IG Bau has been negotiating with the industry's employers in order to set national wages and conditions for some months. Legally established time limits require union and employers to come to an agreement by 31 May. In the last negotiation round held, employers refused to continue discussion on a wage increase, arguing that the economic crisis prevents them to pay any increase for cleaners, some of whom earning only 35% of the average hourly wage in Germany. The union asked for a 8.7% hike. Under these conditions IG Bau has intensified its campaign "Cleanliness has its price".
English: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/Apps/iportal.nsf/pages/sec_20081016_gbg7En;
German: http://sauberkeithatihrenpreis.de

The number of local unions in Sweden's manufacturing sector agreeing to pay cuts and shorter working hours in an effort to save jobs is increasing rapidly. According to the IF Metall union and the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries, one of the largest employers' groups in the manufacturing sector, in recent months between 100 and 150 crisis packages have been signed around the country between union representatives and employers. "It's speeded up a great deal recently," said IF Metall's Veli-Pekka S„ikk„l„ to a news agency, adding that he reckons the agreements have likely saved thousands of jobs. The engineering association's chief negotiator Anders Weihe adds that a number of agreements may have been reached with smaller companies without the knowledge of the union or the association.
English: http://www.thelocal.se/18894/20090416/
via http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Sweden

The CMKOS trade union confederation has attacked proposals for major changes to the Czech labour code. The plans were announced in March before the collapse of the government and the confederation argues that this means that there is now no mandate for such fundamental changes. The reforms focus on creating a more flexible labour market that would make it easier for employers to dismiss employees and to make greater use of fixed-term workers. If implemented, the changes would also undermine collective bargaining and the rights of trade unions at the workplace.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/303; http://www.cmkos.cz/homepage/1438-3

Police, firefighters and border guards joined forces to protest over public sector pay cuts in front of the government buildings in the Vilnius capital on 2 April, while several other demonstrations took place outside Vilnius. The public sector unions plan to mobilise again on 25 April if the government fails to respond.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/303;
http://www.topnews.in/latvian-teachers-lithuanian-police-protest-pay-cuts-2146588