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June 1997

• 28 Jun 1997
  Austria: Tackling the apprenticeships crisis

  Measures which take effect in Austria from 1 July 1997 aim to make apprenticeships more attractive to both employers and 15-year-olds.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Austria: Civil service strikes

  Strike action affected parts of the Austrian civil service on 3 June 1997 and again on 16 June, but a strike of the entire civil service was averted. Further action was planned for 26 June, and there are no indications yet of how or when the dispute will be settled.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Austria: Short-term pension measures planned

  The Austrian Government's budget plans for 1998 and 1999 include cutting state contributions to the national pension insurance schemes. Proposed measures focus on reducing entitlements, creating disincentives to early retirement, and raising top contributions.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Austria: Provincial agreements in tourism

  Having failed to secure a national agreement for waged workers, the social partners in Austria's tourism industry are now proceeding province by province. Three provincial deals had already been signed by the end of June 1997, while three more were expected soon. In the remaining three provinces, trade unions were threatening action for late July. A national collective agreement for salaried workers has also been signed.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Austria: Action taken on nationality-based discrimination

  In June 1997, the Austrian Parliament passed amendments removing nationality as a criteria for unemployment benefit entitlements, which will take effect from 1 January 2000. Other nationality-based inequalities in social and employment legislation are also being addressed.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Belgium: New sectoral collective agreements cover 1.4 million workers

  Sectoral negotiations, which opened after the failure to reach a national intersectoral agreement, have been going much more smoothly than expected in Belgium. Employers' federations and trade unions at sectoral level have concluded collective agreements for the 1997/8 period covering about 1.4 million employees across the private sector. We provide a general overview of the main characteristics of the different agreements, and focus on a number of agreements that deserve special attention.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Belgium: New statute for federal civil servants

  Following proposals made in June 1997, a new statute for Belgian federal civil servants will come into force at the beginning of 1998. The aim is to create a more flexible, better trained and more motivated public service.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Belgium: Disputes hit newspaper sector

  June 1997 saw two separate industrial disputes in Belgium's newspaper industry - one involving professional journalists and the other affecting the PVD distribution company.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Protection against rationalisation agreed for Allied Forces' civilian employees

  On 25 April 1997, after 27 days of strike action, the ÖTV, IG Metall, IG Medien, NGG and DAG trade unions and the German Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Allied Forces, struck a collective agreement on protection against rationalisation for civilian employees at the Allied Forces in Germany. Here, we outline the main characteristics of industrial relations for civilian employees at the Allied Forces in Germany and report on the major results of the negotiations.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Tripartite agreement on Employment Alliance for eastern Germany

  On 22 May 1997, the Federal Government, trade and employers' associations, and trade unions agreed on an "Employment Alliance" entitled theJoint initiative for more jobs in eastern Germany. Here, we outline the contents of the programme and the reactions of the social partners.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: European campaign week against flags of convenience leads to 32 agreements in German ports

  Between 12 May and 16 May 1997, transport trade unions throughout Europe organised boycotts, strikes and demonstrations as part of the European action week against flag of convenience (FOC) shipping. FOC ships were checked in all German ports, and a total of 32 agreements were made between the International Transport Workers' Federation and ship-owners in German ports.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Pilot collective agreement for Northrhine-Westphalia hard-coal mining

  On 21 May 1997, the miners' trade union, IGBE, the salaried employees' union, DAG, and the UVR employers' association struck a pilot collective agreement for the hard-coal mining industry in Northrhine-Westphalia.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Metalworking's first agreement on partial retirement signed at PPS Salzgitter

  On 3 March 1997, the Hanover regional branch of the metalworkers' trade union, IG Metall, and the management of PPS Salzgitter concluded the first collective agreement on partial retirement in the metalworking industry.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Teachers' union delegates topple chair

  On 26 May 1997, for the first time in the history of the German Trade Union Federation, DGB, a member union voted out its chair. In the election for the chair of the GEW teachers' union, Dieter Wunder failed to obtain an absolute majority of delegates' votes in the first ballot. Subsequently, he withdrew his candidacy for the second ballot, where Eva-Maria Stange was elected new chair of the GEW.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: The 1997 collective bargaining round in the German construction industry

  After more than two months of negotiations in the German construction industry, the collective bargaining parties found a compromise on most of the issues in April/May 1997. The social partners agreed to a 1.3% wage increase and the introduction of 100% continued payment of remuneration from the fourth day of sickness. In compensation for the latter, a cut in Christmas and holiday bonuses was concluded. The social partners also finally reached a new agreement on bad weather allowances.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: A Copernican U-turn in German collective bargaining?

  In June 1997, the collective bargaining parties in the west German chemicals industry agreed for the first time to a general "opening clause" on wages, which, under certain circumstances, allows companies to reduce the collectively agreed wage by up to 10% for a limited period of time.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Campaign for social standards among German global players

  The Critical Shareholders group has launched a 1997 campaign seeking the observation of global social standards by German transnational corporations.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: Report examines collectively agreed holidays and holiday bonuses in 1997

  In 1997, significant differences persist in collectively agreed holiday bonuses between various sectors, as well as between western and eastern Germany, according to recent research by the Institute for Economics and Social Science

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: New collective agreements signed in west German banking

  At the end of May 1997, the collective bargaining parties in the west German banking sector concluded new agreements on pay increases, continued payment in the case of illness and partial retirement

• 28 Jun 1997
  Germany: New works agreement seeks to save production sites and employment at Bayer AG

  A new works agreement at Bayer, signed in June 1997, guarantees employment in return for further cuts in labour costs.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Denmark: Revised framework agreement on participation in regional and local authorities

  A framework agreement has recently been negotiated in Denmark's regional and local government which is based on the recognition by the social partners that improved cooperation leads to improved regional and local services. The agreement makes it mandatory for local agreements to be drawn up providing for more cooperation between workers and employers, improved conditions of employment and an enhancement of the role of shop stewards.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Denmark: Employers call on the Danish Government to alter the early retirement scheme

  The number of Danish employees taking early retirement has increased dramatically of late and has reached such a level that it has alarmed employers to the extent of urging the Government to take legislative action to stem the flow. The Social Democratic Government has refused to do so, arguing that it is the responsibility of companies themselves to formulate and implement policies on the retention and gradual withdrawal of older employees from the labour market. Discussions on this issue are continuing and are likely to come to a head at the forthcoming budgetary debate in autumn 1997 and might even become an issue at the next general election. This feature outlines the nature of the issue and considers the arguments that surround it.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Denmark: Company-level bargaining in industry increases pay by 1.7%

  A new estimate from the Confederation of Danish Industries indicates that 1997's company-level bargaining in the industrial sector has led to average pay rises of 1.7%

• 28 Jun 1997
  Denmark: Employers opt out of the Danish health and safety system

  As a reaction to the new Work Environment Act, which they view as "unacceptable centralism and bureaucracy", employers decided in June 1997 to "opt out" of Denmark's tripartite health and safety system

• 28 Jun 1997
  Denmark: Danish Prime Minister addresses Global Labour Summit in Copenhagen

  The Danish Prime Minister opened the Global Labour Summit, held in Copenhagen in May-June 1997, by emphasising the need for trade unions to make full use of the new information technology.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Spain: Renewal of the Spanish system of occupational classification

  The renewal of the Spanish system of occupational classification is marked by the change from the old system of "Labour Ordinances", which were established by law, to a new classification system based on occupational groupings, which is the result of collective bargaining. This process has been accelerated by the labour reforms of the 1990s: the 1994 reform established a deadline for the replacement of the Ordinances, and the 1997 reform established an agreement on occupational classification for those sectors in which one had not yet been established.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Spain: Regional decentralisation of labour market services

  On 3 June 1997, an agreement was finally reached between theGeneralitat(Catalonia's autonomous regional government) and the central Government in Spain to transfer part of the management of theNational Institute of Employment(INEM) to the Catalan regional administration. A historic demand that has been made for over 15 years has thus been satisfied. For the central Government, the transfer of INEM toCataloniais a "pilot scheme" that will serve as a basis for the transfer of powers in this field to other autonomous communities such asGaliciaand theBasque Country.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Spain: Dispute at Astander shipyard

  Protests in June 1997 against the termination of ship-refitting work at Spain's publicly owned Astander shipyard met with a forceful response from the police. The problem arose because the Ministry of Industry imposed a unilateral amendment to the Strategic Competitiveness Plan for the naval sector. The dispute is still continuing, even though the Ministry has modified its position

• 28 Jun 1997
  Spain: The 1997 labour reform in Spain: the April agreements

  Spanish trade unions and employers' organisations recently agreed on a major labour market reform. The three objectives of the "April agreements" of 1997 are to reduce the instability of the labour market, to promote collective bargaining, and to plug the gaps in sectoral regulation that were left following the final repeal of the Labour Ordinances.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Spain: Agreement at Caja Madrid for afternoon opening and job creation

  A recent dispute and subsequent agreement in May 1997 betweenCaja Madrid, an important savings bank, and the trade unions is an important reference point for the current debate on working hours and employment in the Spanish banking sector.

• 28 Jun 1997
  EU Level: Social partners reach framework agreement on part-time work

  After nine months of intensive negotiations, the European social partners concluded a framework agreement on part-time work on 14 May 1997. The agreement, which was formally signed on 6 June, aims to eliminate discrimination against part-time workers in the area of employment protection, and make this form of employment more attractive to employers and employees alike. We look at the background to the negotiations and the content of the deal, and provide an initial assessment of the agreement.

• 28 Jun 1997
  EU Level: European social partners discuss the social impact of restructuring

  In the aftermath of the Renault Vilvoorde crisis, and despite efforts over May-June 1997, the European social partners have so far failed to arrive at a common declaration on the social impact of restructuring, as a result of differences of emphasis. Over the same period, several other EU-level proposals on employee participation (covering national-level information and consultation and worker involvement in the European Company) have appeared.

• 28 Jun 1997
  EU Level: Amsterdam summit agrees new draft Treaty

  The Amsterdam European Council summit meeting concluded on 17 June with the agreement of a new draft Treaty. We outline the contents and some initial reactions to the draft text, which is due to be signed in Amsterdam in October 1997.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Finland: Committee considers the reform of the Employment Contracts Act

  A tripartite committee has been appointed with the task of evaluating the need to reform Finland's Employment Contracts Act. This article provides the background to the setting-up of the committee, which is due to report by October 1997.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Finland: SAK and TT renew their basic agreement

  In June 1997, theCentral Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions(SAK) and theConfederation of Finnish Industry and Employers(TT) announced a renewal of their basic agreement, enabling wider decision-making on terms of employment at local and company level.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Finland: Paperworkers' Union disassociates itself from national-level incomes policy

  At a meeting on 11 June 1997, the Finnish Paperworkers' Union disassociated itself from national incomes policy discussions, arguing for individual agreements for each union. It claimed that there are special problems in the paper industry which necessitate an individual approach.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Finland: Wide consensus in Finland in favour of EMU

  In mid-1997, there seems to be a wide consensus between the Finnish Government and the social partners about EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: New Government faced with differing priorities from unions and employers

  One of the first acts by the new French Prime Minister following his election in June 1997 was to consult with employers and unions prior to announcing his legislative programme. This move was greeted favourably by both employers and trade unions, though their aims are quite different. A national conference on pay, employment and working time is to be held in the autumn.

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: Privatisation for state-owned companies?

  In his inaugural address to the National Assembly on 19 June 1997, France's new Prime Minister,Lionel Jospin, said nothing to clarify his position on the privatisation programme planned by the outgoing Government.

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: New mass redundancy programme announced at Peugeot : 2,816 jobs to be axed

  Immediately following the Left's victory in France's May/June parliamentary elections,Peugeot's management announced a new mass redundancy programme, cutting 2,816 jobs, to the company-wide works council.

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: Expert appointed to resolve Renault-Vilvorde dispute

  On 10 June 1997,Renaultmanagement announced the appointment of an independent expert who will evaluate, on an economic basis, the potential measures envisaged to "compensate for the inefficiency involved in the structure of Renault's production facilities".

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: Minimum wage increased by 4%

  In his inaugural policy statement to Parliament on 19 June, the new Prime Minister,Lionel Jospin, announced a 4% rise in theSMICnational minimum wage to take effect on 1 July 1997.

• 28 Jun 1997
  France: ETUC-organised demonstration calls for job creation

  The demonstration for jobs originally organised by theEuropean Trade Union Confederationfor 28 May 1997, actually took place in France on 10 June, due to the timing of the general election.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Greece: Crisis in Greece's largest steel concern leads to industrial dispute

  The decision in May 1997 by Halivourgiki, the largest steel concern in Greece, to introduce flexible working hours, reduce its workforce and close a part of the production line has led to an industrial dispute. We examine the factors behind Halivourgiki's decision and the reactions of employees and their representatives.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Greece: Collective agreement signed for banking sector 1997/8

  A new collective agreement, signed in May 1997, improves financial and social conditions for bank employees in Greece

• 28 Jun 1997
  Greece: Family benefits raise equal opportunities issues

  A June 1997 decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Greece, affecting mainly public servants, imposes new conditions on the provision of family benefits, which until now had been granted to only one of the marriage partners.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Ireland: National Centre for Partnership established

  ANational Centre for Partnershipwas established in July 1997, in accordance with a commitment in Ireland's current three-year national agreement,Partnership 2000.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Ireland: New Government to continue social partnership

  Ireland's new minorityFianna Fail/Progressive Democratcoalition Government, elected in June 1997, promises to implement fully the terms ofPartnership 2000, the three-year national economic and social programme agreed earlier this year between the previous coalition Government and the social partners.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Ireland: De Beers plans to restructure

  In late April 1997, theDe Beersindustrial diamond plant located inShannon, Ireland, announced plans to introduce a broad-based restructuring programme, covering its reward and grading systems, recruitment, redeployment and a limited number of voluntary redundancies.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Confindustria calls on the Government to speed up structural reforms

  At its annual assembly in May 1997, Confindustria, the main Italian employers' confederation, kept up its pressure on the Government to make changes to the welfare and social security system.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Tripartite negotiations on welfare reform are underway

  Over May-June 1997, the dialogue between the Italian Government, trade unions and employers has been extended to welfare reform and policies related to EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Trade union unity and social dialogue on Cisl's agenda

  Trade union unity and greater social dialogue were the key themes at the 13th national congress of the Cisl union confederation, held in Rome on May 1997.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Government blocks early retirement for school teachers

  In May 1997, the Italian Government proposed emergency measures to modify the pensions system in view of the entry criteria for EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), causing particular problems in the schools sector.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Agreement aims to adapt Italian banking to meet European competition

  An agreement concluded in the Italian banking sector in June 1997, with government mediation, provides for the creation of an employer-financed fund to support redundant workers, and for negotiations on cost reductions.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Construction industry agreement signed

  The new industry-wide agreement for the Italian construction sector, signed in June 1997, includes provisions on pay, local bargaining, occupational pensions and combating undeclared work.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Negotiations start at Electrolux-Zanussi to resolve participation controversies

  In autumn 1996, following what company management considered the constant opposition of some works councils to worker participation, theElectrolux-Zanussigroup in Italy announced that it intended to terminate all company-level agreements on participation from the end of March 1997. At the same time, however, the company invited trade unions to negotiate a revision of the participation model which had been developed within the group during the previous years, in order to strengthen it and confirm joint and full support from both unions and management. Consultations among company and union representatives started in May, but they have not yet led to an agreement. The issue at stake is very important, since the participation model at Electrolux-Zanussi is generally considered one of the most advanced in Europe and the most significant in Italy.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Gradual alignment and discount agreements

  During the last few months the attention of Italian industrial relations practitioners has been drawn by two new kinds of agreement - "gradual alignment" agreements and so-called "discount agreements". They are quite different, but both deal in a distinct way with the same problem: wage flexibility. A deeper analysis of their origins and scope is important, as the issue of wage flexibility is one of the most prominent in the debate on the reform of Italian industrial relations, and is put forward with increasing emphasis by employers' organisations, also with reference to the forthcoming revision of the tripartite agreement of July 1993, which is due to start at the end of June 1997.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Italy: Alitalia agreement provides for employee shareholding and trade union representatives on the board

  Since 18 May 1997, three trade union representatives have sat on the board of directors of the Italian national airline,Alitalia, where they represent the interests of the employee shareholders. This development results from the terms of the company's renewed national collective agreement signed on 19 June 1996, which introduced an in-company shareholding programme.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Luxembourg: Government decides to reform civil servants' pension scheme

  The Luxembourg Government has recently announced plans to legislate to reform the civil service pension scheme, following inconclusive negotiations with the civil servants' trade union. The aims are to cut costs and bring about a degree of convergence between private and public sector pensions - an issue which has been politically controversial for some years.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Luxembourg: New collective agreement for banking employees

  A new collective agreement was concluded in May 1997 for Luxembourg's banking sector. In contrast to the previous 1993 agreement, the accord was signed by all the main trade unions in the sector.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Netherlands: Flexicurity: new bills on flexibility and security at work

  The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is considering two bills that aspire to create a new balance between flexibility and stability on the labour market. The bills, submitted in March 1997, are based on a historic agreement involving a unanimous recommendation by the social partners on the future of labour relations and a significant reassessment of Dutch labour law. This seems to have ensured their public support.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Netherlands: European and national works councils in the Netherlands

  On 5 February 1997, the Dutch European Works Councils Act (Wet op de Europese Ondernemingsraden) came into force, thereby extending Dutch co-determination to include a transnational dimension. This law transposed into Dutch law the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), which aims to increase the right of consultation and information of employees in "Community-scale" companies. It requires every Community-scale company to establish an EWC or an alternative procedure to inform and consult its employees on the company's transnational activities. Although the term "European Works Council" suggests that it corresponds to the Dutch system of works councils, the EWC should not be seen as the apex of the Dutch co-determination structure.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Netherlands: Union demands halt to demolition work until working conditions improve

  In May 1997, the Dutch trade union Industriebond FNV demanded a halt to demolition work by a Chinese company on two blast furnaces in the Netherlands, in a case which has highlighted concerns about working and employment conditions in complex transnational assembly and demolition operations.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Netherlands: Complaints about discrimination and inappropriate treatment during job applications

  Recent studies published in the Netherlands show that discrimination on grounds of age and other factors occurs frequently in job recruitment and selection, while inappropriate treatment of applicants is also common.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Norway: Disagreement over proposed amendments to the Labour Dispute Act

  The Norwegian labour market parties have, during spring 1997, been commenting on the proposed principles for a revision of the Labour Dispute Act. The committee which reviewed the Act proposed a strengthening of the confederations' position with regard to collective bargaining. Although theNorwegian Confederation of Trade Unions(LO) and theConfederation of Norwegian Business and Industry(NHO) basically support the proposal, there is significant opposition to it, particularly from several employee organisations.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Norway: Employment increases, unemployment falls

  New figures presented in the revised national Budget in May 1997 show that employment in Norway has increased faster than earlier estimates predicted, and that unemployment is continuously decreasing. Growth in prices and wages is expected to be moderate for both 1997 and 1998.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Norway: Parliament turns down legislative proposal to prohibit closed shops

  In June 1997, the Norwegian Parliament turned down a legislative proposal which would provide employees with a right both to choose their own organisation or not to be organised. The aim of the proposal was primarily to prohibit collective agreements with closed shop clauses. This would have had a particular impact on employees in enterprises affiliated to the labour movement.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Portugal: Divisions over protecting conditions in the fishing sector

  An April 1997 Government directive regulating the Portuguese fishing sector has unleashed major protests by ship-owners and fishing workers, although for different reasons. The trade unions are trying both to protect fish stocks and to defend living conditions. The central problem is that, as a consequence of collective bargaining in the sector, wages and other income depend directly on the amount of fish caught. In addition, under an agreement between Portugal andSpainsigned in 1985, the Spanish fleet can still fish without restrictions in Portuguese waters.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Portugal: Teachers' unions protect professional autonomy

  A reform of Portugal's Statute on Teaching Careers is currently under negotiation in a context that has favoured strengthening the power of the teaching trade unions, given that education is one of the Government's priorities. This feature highlights the strategy employed by the teaching unions to assume greater control over their profession in terms of autonomy, social mobility and control of their labour market.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Portugal: Sinergia union subscribes to EDP privatisation share issue

  The Portuguese electricity utility, EDP, is being partially privatised and one of the unions involved in the sector, Sinergia, has taken the innovative step of subscribing to the share issue.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Portugal: Grundig closes a company in Portugal

  After several months of negotiations involving various local and central government agencies, a long struggle for jobs at Grundig came to an end in May 1997. In a region where workers reject job mobility, the only remaining recourse is the courts and political channels. Dialogue between the board of directors and workers' representatives has proved unsuccessful.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Portugal: Portuguese workers join European rallies for jobs

  During May-June 1997, Portuguese trade unions took part in the rallies and days of action organised throughout the countries of the European Union in order to emphasise work and employment as prime concerns for future European policies

• 28 Jun 1997
  Sweden: Two more women lose sex discrimination case on pay in Sweden

  Only six cases of alleged wage discrimination on grounds of sex have been decided by the Swedish Labour Court since the implementation in 1980 of the Act on Equality between Men and Women. In four of the cases, the last one in May 1997, the Court rejected the women's complaints. This article summarises the legislation and the Court's case law, examining why women have had such little success in these cases.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Sweden: Labour market trends force Swedish trade unions to review their organisation

  New developments in the labour market are forcing Sweden's trade unions to review their organisation. In June 1997, theSwedish Confederation of Professional Employees(TCO) decided to work for a merger with the other confederation for salaried employees. At the same time it decided to expel one of its own member unions . This article describes Swedish trade union structure and the forces that are bringing about change.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Sweden: The 1997 bargaining round: smaller pay increases in central agreements

  In Sweden's recently concluded bargaining round, the pay rises set by central industry-level agreements averaged around 2.5%-3%, which was less than expected. At the same time more and more central agreements now allow free scope for local bargaining to relate individual pay to performance. Unions and employers failed to achieve a consensus on the issue of working time. These are some of the main outcomes of the 1997 bargaining round, in which the mediators were busier than usual.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Sweden: Employers back out of agreement on employees' security in redundancies

  In June 1997, private sector employers gave notice of termination of the "adjustment agreement", the purpose of which is to help employees in the event of collective redundancies. The unions regard the notice as a severe provocation.

• 28 Jun 1997
  Sweden: First collective agreement for blue-collar workers in temporary agencies

  In May 1997, theSwedish Transport Workers' Unionbecame the first blue-collar trade union to conclude a collective agreement for workers employed by temporary employment agencies. The agencies have undertaken to pay these workers at least half pay each month, based on the average wage of the company where they perform their work.

• 28 Jun 1997
  EU Countries: Social partners and racism: the impact of the European joint declaration

  Combating racial discrimination and xenophobia is an issue which has become increasingly prominent on the European Union agenda in recent years. Since the mid-1980s, a rising tide of concern with the problem can be perceived in various declarations and resolutions by Community institutions, and notably in the inclusion of the issue of racial discrimination in the 1989 "Social Charter". The past two years, especially, have seen significant developments, many of which are of direct relevance to employment and industrial relations. Some of the notable recent landmarks have included:

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: TUC social Europe conference marks ETUC day of action

  On 28 May 1997, theEuropean Trade Union Confederation(ETUC) called for a Europe-wide day of action on the theme "Europe must work". The British Trades Union Congress (TUC) used the occasion to hold a half-day conference at its headquarters in London.

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: Social partners seek solution to bullying at work

  Bullying at work is a serious problem that could be costing UK employers millions of pounds and causing a great deal of misery for employees. In recent months, several social partner organisations have attempted to bring the problem to the fore.

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: UK pushes for employment growth in Europe

  The UK's new Labour Government, elected in May 1997, has made solving the problem of unemployment one of its top priorities. At home, it has committed itself to getting 250,000 young and long-term unemployed people back to work through the "welfare to work" deal, which has largely received a positive reception from social partners. Within the European Union, Labour is also keen to make employment a priority when the UK takes over the Presidency in the first half of 1998, though within the tight limits of promoting labour market flexibility. Will the Government's policy of promoting labour market flexibility and employment growth conflict with the views of the social partners?

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: British Airways faces summer strikes

  Three trade unions with membership totalling nearly half of the workforce ofBritish Airways(BA) balloted members on industrial action in June 1997. In response, the company is reportedly training managers to do the jobs of ground staff and cabin crew, and beginning the process of recruiting agency staff to replace strikers.

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: Social partners react to European agreement on part-time work

  The social partners in the UK have been reacting to the European framework agreement on part-time work concluded on 6 June 1997, which aims to remove discrimination against part-time workers.

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: Government and unions differ on EU information and consultation proposals

  The European Commission's ideas on new EU provisions for national-level employee information and consultation, issued in June 1997, have been welcomed by theTrades Union Congress(TUC) but frowned upon by the Government andConfederation of British Industry(CBI).

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: Unions welcome role in Government

  New initiatives launched by the UK's Labour Government in June 1997 have resulted in trade unions being invited to take part in a wide-ranging consultation process, for the first time in 18 years. These moves were warmly welcomed by the trade union movement.

• 28 Jun 1997
  United Kingdom: Government relaxes compulsory competitive tendering rules

  To the delight of theTrades Union Congress(TUC), the UK Government announced on 3 June 1997 that rules compelling local councils to open their services to outside competition are to be scrapped.