Collective Bargaining

According to a survey carried out by trade union confederation SAK and the Industrial Union people are not positive about the new unemployment system that was implemented by the government. The new model is designed to activate job seekers by demanding that in the first three-month review period, unemployed jobseekers become an entrepreneur, work for at least 18 hours or sign-up for activities such as training. When these requirements are not met the benefits are cut. The survey, in which 6000 trade union members took part, reveals that it can be very difficult for unemployed job seekers to meet this requirements. Especially for people that live in rural areas with lack of job opportunities and elderly job seekers it is difficult to find work. The trade union confederation urges the government to change their unemployment benefit system.

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When platform workers are getting organised they do not always do this through a traditional trade union. While traditional trade unions are increasingly focussing on organising platform workers platform workers are also organising themselves in more creative ways. Recent research from the European Trade Union Institute indicates that digital platforms have also become sites experimentation in the labour movement with grassroots independent unions becoming more prominent, particularly in the on-demand transport and food sectors of the platform economy. The Fairwork Foundation estimates there are currently over seven million digital platform workers across the world.

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Construction workers want a full implementation of their collective agreement which would include restoration of previously cut salaries and benefits and are ready to fight for it. With a written statement the workers have authorised their unions Peo, Sek and Deok to announce strike measures if the Federation of Cyprus Building Contractors does not meet their demands.

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Research carried out by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) shows that workers have lost from just under 5.000 pounds in the north-east to more than 20.000 pounds in London in real earnings since 2008. According to the union the country has suffered the worst real wage slump among leading economies. According to the analysis UK workers are suffering the longest real wage squeeze in more than 200 years, with average pay packets not set to recover to their 2008 level until 2024.

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The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has won a case in the court of appeal about a longstanding dispute regarding firefighters’ pensions. The FBU went to court because in 2015 the pension scheme was changed for the worse. Older members could stay in the better pension scheme while younger members had to change to the new scheme which would not only cause them huger financial loses but would also change their minimum retire age to 60 years. Workers that fall under the old scheme can retire at 55. According to the FBU this two different schemes were unlawful on age discrimination ground.

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A union researcher is developing an algorithm that can help unions predict several facts that could influence bargaining outcomes. Trade union Unionen, where the union researcher works, has a massive database of information coming from member looking for advice or reporting problems. Based on their behaviour in the past, there can be detected certain patterns in the behaviour of specific companies. The data can also help to get a broader picture of labour market developments. If the economy is for example going to shrink, the algorithm will be able to predict which sectors will be likely to start laying people off or making pay cuts. Knowing this kind of information on forehand can make it easier to allocate adequate union capacity to the sectors or companies and to improve bargaining outcomes.

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Parliament passed the revision of the Gender Equality Act. The revision of the law finally regulates binding measures against ongoing wage discrimination. On average women earn 7% less than their male colleagues. According to union SGB says that this act is step in the good direction but believes that the improvements are not going far enough. The original proposal was weakened by political parties that did not want to make employers fully accountable for wage discrimination. Union SGB announced a nationwide women strike for 14 June 2019.

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The country is facing a wave of industrial action over the holidays with about 50 strike warnings being issued by workers, most of them civil workers, demanding higher wages and better working conditions. The strikes are organised in a bid to press the government into implementing further reforms and wage increases. According to the workers and their unions the current economic growth and the country having one of the lowest wages in Europe makes these demands legitimate. SEF immigration and border workers and two large private airport security groups threatening action this festive period but also operating room nurses have announced more strike actions.

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Trade unions brought together over 4000 protestors outside the headquarter of Vienna health insurance to protest new social insurance legislation. The Private Employees' Union (GPA) fears worse benefits for patients and increased work pressure on its employees due to the reform. Furthermore they state that the new legislation creates a three-class social insurance system that only benefits privately insured people and private insurance companies. The unions came with a united message to the government: they are prepared to fight for their healthcare system. More than 60 % of Austrians are reported to be against the social security reforms.

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Unions went to court because they believe Norwegian Air Shuttle is not taking its responsibility as an employer. Both cabin crew and pilots are not directly employed by the airline company but are formally employed by two different subsidiaries. After a long-running court case the Supreme Court finally decided that the airline company does not have employer responsibility for its pilots and cabin crew.

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