Collective Bargaining

In 2018, total annual income per individual in Iceland was 6.6 million ISK (€ 48.673) on average. The median income from work shows a considerable difference in the income of individuals with basic education compared with those with higher education. It should be noted that the comparison of total income by education does not take into account the labour status of individuals. Total income is defined as the total income from work, capital income and other income. Other income may include pension payments, benefits and unemployment benefits.

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Members of IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliate Kristal-Is striked at Düzce Cam, one of the subsidiaries of Turkish-based glassmaker Okan Group in the town Düzce. Over a four-year struggle for union recognition, the glassmaker has used every union-busting tactics.

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The result of an online survey published by the Association Générale des Journalistes Professionnels (AJP, General professional journalists’ union) shows that some rates of freelance-journalists in the French-speaking part of the country have remained on the same precarious level as they were in 2007. Some rates even dropped below that level. The answers of 255 respondents indicate their average gross earnings were between € 2000 and € 2400. Fortunately, there seems to be a positive development because new magazines aiming at quality want to pay the freelancers a fair price.

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This agreement is applicable until end of December 2022 and will result in substantial improvements for the pilots employed by Europe’s leading all-cargo airline. Part of the agreement signed is a salary increase of 4% for the airline’s more than 500 pilots over the 4-year duration of the contract. Additionally, the new agreement includes significant improvements to the flight time limitations.

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Despite being a highly developped country it only ranks 20th in gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum, Switzerland ranks 20th in gender equality, lagging behind many European countries, such as the Scandinavian countries, France, Germany, and Poland. The feminist movement has been a long and challenging endeavour. The differences between women and men are still worthy of attention. If the country wants to remain one of the best places to live and work, it needs to address the gender gap and reduce gender inequality. Public initiatives demonstrate the urge for changes.

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Rules to bolster the rights of unemployed people, an increase in the maternity leave allowance, a potential referendum on the statutory pension age and the government’s new national reform programme are the main topics of interest in this Eurofound note. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the second quarter of 2019. According to data from the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, the number of insured employed persons exceeded 1.6 million at the end of July and reached the figure of 1,600,405. This means that compared to pre-recession July 2008, when the figure stood at 1.639 million, there are only 39,000 insured persons less.

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Port State Control inspected the Liberian-flagged MV Lita and found safety breaches and deficiencies relating to working conditions on board. The inspection took place following a complaint by one of the seafarers. Only after nine days the ship was released when the most critical of the 36 deficiencies were repaired. During the detention union members afforded the crew with drinking water.

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Service sector labour union Ver.di calls on its 2 million members to join the global Fridays for Future climate strike on 20 September. The union will not proclaim an official general strike but encourages its members to join. The Fridays for Future student movement calls for a global climate strike on 20 September, and plans protests in more than 100 towns and cities.

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British Airways (BA) lost a legal appeal to prevent its pilots going on strike over pay. BA’s parent company International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) first went to court the previous week, but its initial application was dismissed. Were the strike to proceed, it would involve 4,000 pilots at Heathrow and Gatwick but affect flights from all UK airports, including Stansted, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Up to 140,000 passengers a day would be affected by the action.

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Union leaders say the 900 job cuts announced by Ryanair are mainly about intimidating its workforce and have little to do with operational justifications. Unions believe the cuts are an attempt to undermine collective bargaining because the company at the same time expects growth. The union’s distrust is grounded in Ryanair’s union-avoiding tactics in response to the creation of a new cabin crew union last year.

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