On 19 November, the Federation of Chemical and Energy Workers (FCE-CFDT) Union conducted a day of action against the country's plastics manufacturers over a long simmering wage dispute. Some 150,000 workers in plastics, employed by 3,700 big and small plastics companies, have not seen any wage increase since 2006. Early in 2008, the employers' federation abrogated a 2004 collective agreement which automatically gave wage increases that at least matched inflation. In the over three years since the last pay hike, three pay grids in French plastics have fallen below the national minimum wage (SMIC) levels. Despite ongoing negotiations since May 2008, the employers' grouping and the unions have been unable to reach acceptable wage standards, or a threshold on maximum seniority pay.
English: http://www.icem.org/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/3501-French-Plastics-Workers .
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After five intensive negotiation rounds, the joint union negotiating team of the GMTN and GPA-DJP unions succeeded in signing a new collective agreement covering about 170,000 employees in the sector. The main point of controversy was the employers' demand for far-reaching unpaid extension of working time flexibility in exchange for pay increases. The unions estimated this demand to result in individual income losses up to Euro 3,500 per year. Under pressure of many works council actions, the employers agreed to separate the discussion on changes in working time flexibility from the current bargaining round. Finally, main results were a 1.5% increase in collectively agreed minimum wages/salaries, with the new minimum at Euro 1,479, and a 1.45% increase in effectively paid wages/salaries. The start of the agreement is backdated 1 November 2009.
English: message EUCOBAN network European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF)
On Wednesday 18 November the Bucharest Court ruled the strike of the city's Metrorex subway workers illegal. After learning of the court ruling, subway union leader Ion Radoi announced the protesters will observe the law. He stressed, however, that the conflict remains open, with the negotiations to be resumed, and that in two or three weeks the same situation could be reached if claims are not solved. On 17 November the subway went on strike as a consequence of the refusal of the Metrorex administration to negotiate salaries. Minister of Transport Radu Berceanu argued that the union could only negotiate in January, when the subway budget was established.
English: http://www.financiarul.ro/2009/11/19/bucharest-court-rules-subway-workers .;
http://www.financiarul.ro/2009/11/18/minister-berceanu-asks-trade-unions-to-wait .
An innovative draft collective agreement has been concluded in the metal and engineering sector, covering about 400,000 workers and 35,000 employers, and running from 1 December 2009 to 31 March 2011. The wage increase for 2010 will have the character of temporary working days or "anti crisis days" (ACDs), awarded to a maximum of 3.5 days. Latest 1 October 2010, employers can change these days into a payment of 1.5%. On 1 February 2011, the actual wage scales will be lifted by 1.5%. In October 2010, the unions and the employers' association will decide whether the ACD arrangement will be continued in 2011. If so, the wage increase as of 1 February 2011 will not be materialized.
English: message EUCOBAN network European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF)
Dutch: http://www.fnvbondgenoten.nl/metaal/weblog_jan_berghuis
The pay and conditions of around 700,000 workers in schools are now negotiated in a new structure - the School Staff Negotiating Body. The SSNB will cover teaching assistants, nursery staff, administrators, secretaries, policy officers, technicians, cleaners, special needs staff, caretakers and school meals workers. Unions believe that this is an important development that will help ensure a fair and equal pay system for school support staff across the country. The three trade unions on the body are UNISON, GMB and Unite. Says Christina McAnea, Head of Education for UNISON, "The body will oversee and ensure fair and equal pay alongside a robust training and career structure to apply in all schools."
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/328; http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1645
Over 90% of the voting membership of the union involved, ABVAKABO FNV, agreed with the result of union negotiators in the disabled care sector. According to the new collective agreement, employees in this sector will see their salaries increase by 1.5% in December 2009 and will by then receive a lump sum worth 1.25% of their annual salary. This is part of the new collective agreement that runs from 1 January 2009 to 1 March 2011. There will also be a 1% pay increase from 1 July 2010. The year-end bonus is increased by 0.5% in 2009 and by 0.65% on 2010, taking it to 5.75%.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/328;
Dutch: http://www.abvakabofnv.nl/cao/bericht/leden_abvakbo_fnv_akkoord_met_cao .
Public services union UNISON has endorsed one of the key conclusions of a report on social care from the non-profit organization, the National Care Forum. The report emphasizes the point that quality care depends on the level of resources provided including the pay and conditions of social care workers. UNISON's response highlighted the continuing problems of low pay and high staff turnover in the sector and the need to improve pay and conditions as well as training provision.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/328; http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1640
Around 1,000 firefighters and emergency service workers took to the streets of Santiago de Compostela on 30 October to demonstrate against plans by the Galician government's privatization plans. The three main union federations - CCOO, UGT and CSI - supported the march, warning of the impact of privatization on the quality of services and of an increase in precarious employment conditions.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/328;
Spanish: http://www.fsc.ccoo.es/webfsc/menu.do?Actualidad:Federal:Actualidad:67132
Unions representing Spanish airline Iberia's cabin crew have called off strikes planned for November and December after reaching a wage agreement with management. The unions already carried out strike actions in October and November. Yet, on Thursday 19 November Iberia management announced it had agreed an average 4% salary increase in 2009 for its nearly 4,000 cabin crew. A week earlier, a merger was proposed between British Airways and Iberia Airlines.
English: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLK .
via http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=Spain
Negotiations are underway between the GPA-DJP and vida trade unions and the BAGS employers' organization over a new agreement covering 75,000 workers in private health and social care services. The unions argue that it is vital to maintain increases in earnings for this group of workers particularly as the majority are women and their aim is to obtain a minimum amount of increase in Euros as well as an overall percentage rise. Vida is also in the middle of negotiations covering the 15,000 employees in private health institutions. The union is again looking for a real increase in pay along with proper compensation for changes to working hours as the employers have been demanding greater flexibility from workers without compensating them properly for changes to their rosters.
English: http://www.epsu.org/cob/328
German: http://www.gpa-djp.at/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=GPA/Page/ .