Collective Bargaining

During a 2016 strike the president of the Antwerp branch La Centrale Générale – ABVV, took part in roadblocks to the port of Antwerp. The strikers were confronted by police who broke up the demonstration and arrested union leaders. The president was sentenced because of ‘malicious obstruction of traffic’. The court of appeal now ruled that his conviction without sentence was right. A verdict regarded by the international union movement as an infringement of trade union rights.

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A local Turkish court determined on July 10, 2019 that workers at Cargill's Bursa-Orhangazi factory were dismissed in April 2018 solely as a consequence of their union activity. The expert report, which informed the court's decision, confirmed that the company's justifications for dismissal were groundless. The workers were fired because they had joined Tekgida-Is. Despite this court finding, Turkish law does permit employers under these circumstances to offer compensation as an alternative to reinstatement.

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The Greek unemployment rate fell to 17.6% of the workforce in April 2019 from 18.2% in March and 19.8% in April last year, the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said in a report on Thursday. This is the lowest figure recorded since June 2011.

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A set of comprehensive data series on earnings for 2014-2018 by occupational groups, sectors and economic activities has been published. Previously published data for 2014-2017 have been revised. Results are based on the Icelandic Survey on Wages, Earnings and Labour Costs, which cover about 90 thousand employees.

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The Frente Comum group of public service unions has criticised the government for failing to respect existing collective bargaining arrangements in the public sector. The government has put forward reforms to public sector pensions without going through the proper procedure for consultation. Instead of negotiating directly with public sector unions the government will use a social dialogue forum that includes private sector employers. The Frente Comum unions are concerned about the impact of the proposed pension reforms which could reduce rights for workers to retire from 60 with 40 years' service, for example.

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Bank sector workers across Germany will benefit from a 4% pay increase over 29 months and support in the digital transition, following successful collective bargaining negotiations concluded with employers on 4 July. The union Ver.di reached this result after five increasingly difficult negotiation rounds as well as a warning strike.

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Shareholders of Dutch listed companies are increasingly committed to recruiting more female board members. Half of the board members appointed since October 2018, are women, according to a study by Eumedion. Eumedion represents institutional investors' interests in the field of corporate governance and related sustainability performance. The study by Eumedion found that more and more shareholders voted against the appointment of a new male board member if there were only men on the board.

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The public service federations are continuing their campaign to force the AIOP and ARIS private health employer organisations to negotiate a collective agreement. The last one was concluded 12 years ago. This new initiative follows a meeting with the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces where the unions secured a commitment initiate a change in legislation on the accreditation of private providers that would require them to negotiate a collective agreement with the three recognised trade unions in line with the negotiations in the public sector.

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A work-to-rule strike by handler Swissport broke out at Brussels Airport. The strike started after talks between trade unions and management broke off. The unsatisfied unions called for the work-to-rule actions because the employees demand attention for their ‘unsustainable’ work conditions that lead to exhaustion.

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From month July 21-year-olds no longer fall under the youth minimum wage. For years this youth wage applied to workers until the age of 23 years. In 2017, the government decided to gradually reduce this age to 21. There are no plans to further lower the age limit for an adult minimum wage, but the chairman of FNV Jong, said "Ultimately, all people over 18 must receive an adult wage."

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