Collective Bargaining

The European Employment Services (EURES) platform has addressed the issue of seasonal fluctuations in the labour market. Seasonal fluctuations in employment and unemployment, particularly in the construction and tourism sectors, are common in many European countries. The degree of fluctuation differs between member states and is linked to certain conditions such as statutory regulations and regulations under collective agreements, corporate practice, and the mobility and proportion of the foreign workforce in a particular member state.

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The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), which represents some 19,000 members in secondary schools, colleges of further and adult education, institutes of technology and universities, announced a strike for 4 February 2020. The dispute centres around the big pay differences between those hired before and after 2011. New secondary school teachers earn 10% less in the first 10 years of their career than they would have before the recession-era cutbacks were implemented.

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In an interview, the President of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (CATUS) said that the last five years were extremely difficult for Serbian workers. The period has been marked by low salaries and pensions and a ban on new employment in the public sector. CATUS did its best, but is still not satisfied with the results. Workers exposed to employer pressure could not always find “shelter under the union’s umbrella”.

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Police, nurses, teachers and public administration workers have announced strike action across Portugal, threatening to bring the country to a halt. PSP and GNR police unions have stated that they will be holding monthly protests until the government responds to their demands. Their demands include the payment of a risk allowance, higher salaries, an increase in staff and a call for better personal protection equipment.

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Figures published by the Czech Statistics Office show that foreign workers made up 13% of the labour force in 2019. In 2010 it was just 6%, meaning the number has more than doubled over the last decade. This growth can be explained by the historically low unemployment figures in the same period.

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There will be no action taken before 10 February following a strike notice filed with air traffic controller Skeyes over new contracts with the Belgian Defence Department. Union ACV-Transcom had announced a strike against collaboration with the Belgian Defence Department. Later the same week a conciliation meeting was held in a constructive atmosphere. A further meeting will take place on 10 February. In the meantime, all actions and intentions to take action have been suspended.

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“Four Day Week Ireland” is a campaign advocating for a gradual, steady, managed transition to a shorter working week for all workers, in the private and public sectors. It aims to start a public conversation on the case for reduced working hours.

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After several months of negotiations, a new collective agreement for the technology industry was accepted. Wages will rise by 3.3%. The agreement is valid for 25 months. The agreement covers some 100,000 workers in the technology sector, such as metal, mining, automotive, shipyards, etc. Industrial action was necessary to reach the agreement.

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Unions promise months more of strike action

January 24,2020

Some of France’s unions threatened industrial action for months to come, in order to force the President to withdraw the biggest reform of the pension system since the Second World War. Union leaders themselves acknowledge it is a now-or-never moment before the draft law heads to parliament.

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According to Croatian affiliates of EPSU, the European Public Service Union, workers need higher wages. The wages are too low to stem the wave of emigration. Many sectors such as health and care face staff shortages. The statutory minimum wage should be raised to 60% of the median wage. Moreover, the government should foster a better climate for collective bargaining.

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The bank accounts of multiple transit companies have been blocked because of US sanctions against Aivars Lembergs. Trade unions associated with the transit industry have requested Latvia’s highest-ranking officials to resolve the situation, promising to organise massive protests if the government does not act.

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