November 1998
- 28 Nov 1998
Austria: Social partners discuss severance pay and holiday entitlements<#PDF_LINK>During autumn 1998, the Austrian social partners have been debating a reform of the severance pay system. Trade unions seek to broaden entitlement to cover not only dismissals but also voluntary resignations and to include the seasonally employed without reducing the size of payments. Employers are demanding changes to holiday regulations in return.
- 28 Nov 1998
Austria: Sectoral agreements for crafts enterprises under threat<#PDF_LINK>Negotiators in the Austrian metalworking crafts sector managed to conclude a new collective agreement in November 1998, but have had difficulty in securing sufficient consent at the provincial and guild level to initiate procedures to extend the deal to all establishments in the sector. This continues a trend that may eventually result in the demise of the crafts sectoral agreement.
- 28 Nov 1998
Austria: Sunday working controversy resurfaces<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) is being forced to take a line on a referendum opposing Sunday working. Parts of the ÖGB, together with the Catholic church, support the referendum but the leadership is afraid of losing an instrument in the fight for employment and hence an important bargaining chip.
- 28 Nov 1998
Austria: New salary rates agreed in commerce<#PDF_LINK>Under an agreement concluded in November 1998, actual salaries in the Austrian commerce sector will rise by slightly more than 2% from the beginning of 1999. However, the ambitious goals proclaimed previously - harmonisation of existing agreements and unification of pay scales - have not made any progress.
- 28 Nov 1998
Austria: Holiday working controversy<#PDF_LINK>In 1998, Austria's 8 December public holiday is increasingly embattled, since it is in the middle of the Christmas shopping season. The law permits employment in shops on a voluntary basis and mandates double pay, while a collective agreement sets further conditions. Nonetheless, representatives of employees' organisations remain opposed.
- 28 Nov 1998
Belgium: Major reform of long-term unemployment rules proposed<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, the Belgian Minister for Employment and Labour released the text of a proposal to reform the regulation of long-term unemployment, which has attracted trade union protests. The reform aims to reinforce the availability of unemployed people for work and to adjust the scale of sanctions for abuses. It takes a step towards replacing a system of unemployment insurance as a form of social security with a system that combines insurance and social assistance, as in other European countries. A recent academic study has provided evidence of this trend, showing that at least a third of those receiving social assistance are people who have lost their entitlement to unemployment benefits.
- 28 Nov 1998
Belgium: Walloon public transport strike-bound<#PDF_LINK>Public transport in Wallonia (Belgium) was disrupted by a series of strikes for several months towards the end of 1998. The strikes are an indicator of the growing discontent amongst transport workers following competition requirements imposed by the Walloon Regional Transport Company.
- 28 Nov 1998
Belgium: Position of migrant workers on the Belgian labour market under scrutiny<#PDF_LINK>The situation of foreign nationals on the labour market has received attention from both the Belgian government and the social partners during 1998. Foreign workers are often confronted with different forms of overt or implicit racism and with structural obstacles such as their educational background, as well as other problems that weaken their position on the labour market. This feature takes a closer look at the position of migrant workers in Belgium and at the initiatives taken to improve it.
- 28 Nov 1998
Belgium: National intersectoral agreement received with acclaim<#PDF_LINK>On 18 November 1998, the social partners in Belgium reached a national intersectoral agreement for the 1999-2000 period. Unlike attempts in previous years, they had managed to do so without the government's intervention. The signs indicate that the rank and file of both employers' and employees' organisations will now ratify the agreement. The settlement also marks a renewed sense of confidence in the Belgian model of consensus in industrial relations.
- 28 Nov 1998
Belgium: Confederation of Christian Trade Unions holds four-yearly congress<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (ACV/CSC), Belgian's largest union organisation with about 1.6 million members, was due to hold its four-yearly congress in November 1998. This "union of value, with values", as it labels itself, will discuss the principles of "basic trade unionism", and intends to become a more representative, democratic and active union.
- 28 Nov 1998
Germany: German social partners set out priorities and demands for German EU Presidency<#PDF_LINK>The German government will hold the EU Council Presidency in the first six months of 1999. In late 1998, the German social partners issued their positions, priorities and demands for the Presidency.
- 28 Nov 1998
Germany: Internet strike at the GMD FIRST institute<#PDF_LINK>October 1998 witnessed the start of what may have been the first "internet strike", at the GMD FIRST research institute in Berlin, Germany. Employees were protesting against the threat of wage cuts.
- 28 Nov 1998
Germany: BASF, IG BCE and the Bertelsmann Foundation establish initiative for employment<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998 in Germany, BASF, IG BCE and the Bertelsmann Foundation established an "initiative for employment", which includes the setting up of regional networks to boost local employment.
- 28 Nov 1998
Germany: The significance of the new red-green government for German industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, the Germany's new "red-green" (Social Democrat/Green) federal government presented its coalition agreement, which determines its political programme for the next four years. In the field of industrial relations, the new government's programme contains various legal and political initiatives for a more active labour market policy, fairer conditions on the labour market and improved employees' rights. The new administration's most important project is the establishment of a new "alliance for jobs" as a permanent tripartite institution at national level. However, since employers' associations and trade unions have rather different views on the new government's policy, the construction of such a national employment pact is still uncertain.
- 28 Nov 1998
Germany: Employers propose changes to banking collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the German banking employers' association issued a five-point programme for the reform of the sector's collective agreements, aimed at obtaining greater flexibility and adaptability in order to meet growing competition.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: The shop steward of the future - LO conducts major survey<#PDF_LINK>A major new survey of Danish shop stewards, published in September 1998, indicates that the shop steward of the future will not only be involved in bargaining over pay and working conditions. Shop stewards, it is suggested, will become increasingly involved in more strategic and financial decisions at the workplace. This presents new requirements for shop steward training, and may also be a challenge for the trade union movement.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Cooperation found to be central to the Danish shop steward system<#PDF_LINK>The shop steward plays an important role in many Danish businesses, not least for management, which regards shop stewards as important "sparring partners". In general, the shop steward is respected by both employees and management, though many call for more response from their constituents. The stewards' influence on trade unions is greatest at local level, but diminishes higher up the hierarchy. These are some of the findings of a major new survey of Danish shop stewards, published in September 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Employers demand tax cuts<#PDF_LINK>Collective bargaining outcomes and the government intervention to settle the major industrial dispute in spring 1998 have led to a level of company-level pay increases which is damaging to Danish competitiveness, according to the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA). Therefore, in November 1998 DA called on the government to introduce tax cuts to improve the situation of companies.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Government employees demand more holidays and higher pay<#PDF_LINK>When the Danish government intervened in spring 1998 to end the major private sector industrial dispute, one of the elements of the settlement was the provision of additional days of holiday. Demands to extend this extra holiday will be a major feature in the forthcoming collective bargaining in the public sector in spring 1999. The first statements from the public sector bargaining parties, at congresses held in November 1998, indicate that a tough bargaining round can be expected.
- 28 Nov 1998
Denmark: Breakthrough for alternative trade union movement<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the Danish Christian Trade Union signed a collective agreement with restaurant owners in Nyhavn, Copenhagen. This means that, for the first time, the largest alternative organisation to the traditional trade union movement will have a collective agreement in that part of the labour market which is regarded as being covered by the two largest central organisations, the Danish Federation of Trade Unions (LO) and the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA).
- 28 Nov 1998
Spain: Employment agreements boost action on new sources of jobs<#PDF_LINK>The pacts and agreements for employment reached in Spain during 1998 have included action programmes designed to promote new sources of employment. In the second half of the year, new schemes on this topic have appeared at both state and regional level. Spain has thus recovered from a certain delay in introducing active employment policies in this area.
- 28 Nov 1998
Spain: Agreement at Ford plant in Spain follows long dispute<#PDF_LINK>The 10-month dispute at the Ford Almussafes plant in Spain ended in an agreement in late October 1998, after the vice-president of Ford's HQ in Detroit had threatened to close the plant in a videoconference, which reportedly shocked public opinion. The wide-ranging agreement covers areas including pay, apprenticeships and voluntary retirement.
- 28 Nov 1998
Spain: Flexibility in exchange for jobs at SEAT<#PDF_LINK>An agreement was signed in November 1998 between the CC.OO and UGT trade unions and the management of SEAT, which involves increasing production and introducing more flexible working hours in exchange for employment stability and job creation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Spain: Agreement between government and unions on part-time contracts<#PDF_LINK>On 13 November 1998, the Spanish government and the CC.OO and UGT trade union confederations signed an agreement on part-time employment contracts which seeks to improve the conditions of part-time workers and to provide them with social security benefits pro rata to the number of hours worked. The main employers' organisation, CEOE, refused to sign because it claims that the form of contract on offer was too inflexible and complicated and that the contracts will lead to a less flexible labour market.
- 28 Nov 1998
Finland: Stress symptoms increase among employees<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 1998, following several research reports indicating increased stress and a higher pace of work during the 1990s, Finnish trade unions have been focusing attention on employees' ability to cope. Employers deny that stress symptoms have increased solely due to more demanding work. In their view, people's whole lifestyles have become more hectic.
- 28 Nov 1998
Finland: Fixed-term contracts becoming widespread<#PDF_LINK>The proportion of Finnish employees on fixed-term contracts has increased and the phenomenon has become established in all employee groups in the 1990s, according to a survey by Statistics Finland published in autumn 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: New features emerging in French trade unionism?<#PDF_LINK>Late 1998 has seen a number of notable developments in France's notoriously fragmented trade union movement. These include: joint debates between the CFDT and the CGT; a public willingness on the part of the CGT to move from a "trade unionism of protest to a trade unionism of proposals"; a partnership contract between the CFDT and the UNSA; and an "overhaul" of the CFE-CGC.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Change in the employers' camp - CNPF becomes MEDEF<#PDF_LINK>The National Council of French Employers (CNPF) decided on a new policy direction at its national general assembly in October 1998. It did this firstly by changing its name to the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) and secondly by setting out new demands for a change in society, based on greater flexibility in employment legislation and a reform of the state.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Programme to tackle racial discrimination proposed<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, France's Minister for Employment and Solidarity, Martine Aubry, presented a programme to address racial discrimination and proposed the setting up of an observatory on the issue.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Sectoral agreement on mandating employees to negotiate<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, employers and trade unions in France's supermarket and hypermarket food retailing sector reached agreement on the "mandating" procedure. This enables companies with no union representatives to negotiate agreements with employees mandated for this purpose.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Early retirement for jobs scheme (ARPE) under renegotiation<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998, France's social partners have been renegotiating the ARPE scheme, under which employees take early retirement in exchange for the recruitment of new employees. Employers have agreed to negotiate on condition that the government does not interfere in the funding of the scheme.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Reform of redundancy law deferred<#PDF_LINK>It was announced in November 1998 that the French government does not intend for the time being to undertake the statutory reform of redundancy law that Prime Minister Lionel Jospin promised when he came in June 1997. The government has opted instead further to tighten current preventive measures concerning redundancy programmes.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Xerox agrees redundancy programme and early retirement at 52<#PDF_LINK>In an attempt to deal with the restructuring of its divisions and the relocation of part of its activities to Ireland, Xerox's French subsidiary has decided to cut its workforce. In October 1998, the company signed two agreements with trade unions, one of which pertains to an early retirement programme funded without government aid.
- 28 Nov 1998
Ireland: Budget priority should be social welfare and not tax cuts, says ESRI<#PDF_LINK>The issue of "fairness" has increasingly become a subject of debate amongst social partners and commentators in Ireland. In this context, an October 1998 study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) states that the 1999 state Budget should devote more funds to increasing social welfare payments and less to cutting income taxes. The main conclusion of the study is that many of the poorest people in Irish society gain little or nothing from tax reductions, however structured, and that relative poverty can be tackled only by allocating more resources to increasing social welfare rates in line with, or ahead of, the growth in average earnings. The social partners are in disagreement over this issue, which is closely linked to the continuation of Ireland's national social partnership agreements.
- 28 Nov 1998
Ireland: Partnership deals - signposts to the future?<#PDF_LINK>It was reported in November 1998 that the number of company/trade union agreements which come under the broad definition of "partnership" used in Ireland's three-year Partnership 2000 national agreement, are still relatively few in number, yet they are seen as significant signposts to a new set of relationships in the workplace.
- 28 Nov 1998
Ireland: Changing face of industrial relations affects conciliation service<#PDF_LINK>A large majority of employers and trade unions believe that recent changes in industrial relations practices in Ireland have had an impact on the role played by the conciliation service of the Labour Relations Commission, according to a confidential report commissioned by this state-run dispute-resolution agency and submitted in August 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Italy: Legislative decree sets up national continuing vocational training system<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the Italian government issued a legislative decree to implement 1997 legislation setting up a national system of continuing vocational training, based on cooperation among the social partners.
- 28 Nov 1998
Italy: National collective agreement signed for employees of local public bodies<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, trade unions and the public sector bargaining agency, Aran, signed a national collective agreement for employees of regional and local authorities and other local bodies.
- 28 Nov 1998
Italy: Electricity supply liberalised<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the Italian government decided to liberalise the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, a decision approved with reservations by tarde unions and employers' organisations. The Government also announced the future privatisation of electric utilities.
- 28 Nov 1998
Italy: Liberalisation of Rome taxi service causes strike<#PDF_LINK>November 1998 saw a 10-day strike by taxi drivers in Rome in opposition to the municipal authorities' plans to deregulate the taxi service. The protest was to no avail and from 1 January 1999, Rome will be the first Italian city with a liberalised taxi service.
- 28 Nov 1998
Italy: Working hours still a controversial issue in Italy<#PDF_LINK>By the end of November 1998, the Italian parliament was to decide whether or not to enact the government's decree-law No. 335, aimed at restricting the use of overtime. Overtime is a very controversial issue which is intertwined with the debate over the reduction of working time. Furthermore, the debate over the decree has given the social partners the opportunity to emphasise their role in the regulation of the employment relationship, by asking the government and parliament to follow the guidelines set out in a 1997 joint declaration by employers' organisations and trade unions on the transposition of the EU working time Directive.
- 28 Nov 1998
Luxembourg: Problems in transposing the National Action Plan on Employment<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998, Luxembourg's National Action Plan for employment, negotiated on a tripartite basis in April 1998, was mired in controversy in the various professional chambers and within the framework of the legislative procedure in parliament. Despite the efforts of the minister of labour and employment and the parliamentary rapporteurs, it is by no means certain that the draft legislation will be adopted by 1 January 1999.
- 28 Nov 1998
Luxembourg: Joint union platform calls for a structural overhaul of pensions legislation<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, seven of Luxembourg's main private sector trade unions formed a joint platform and submitted demands for an improved statutory pension scheme. Their proposals are based on a convergence of the private and public sector pension schemes, and they argue for structural improvements to the private sector scheme. The unions' claims have been vigorously opposed by the employers.
- 28 Nov 1998
Luxembourg: Conciliation on public sector pay<#PDF_LINK>Following the long-running dispute over new legislation reducing public sector pensions, in October 1998 Luxembourg's public sector mediator started to address a legal claim for an increase in civil servants' pay.
- 28 Nov 1998
Luxembourg: Negotiations start on new banking agreement<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, negotiations commenced over a new collective agreement for Luxembourg's banking sector. The social partners have agreed that priority should be given to issues linked to the pay structure, continuing training and working time organisation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Luxembourg: New employment initiative in the north of Luxembourg<#PDF_LINK>A new initiative called "Service to citizens", launched by a trade union-backed association in October 1998, seeks to provide young unemployed people in the north of Luxembourg with an initial experience of work, and at the same time give them extra individual training.
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Employers seek to restructure collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>Autumn 1998 has seen a new development in Dutch industrial relations, with employers from other sectors - such as banking and healthcare - seeking to follow the lead of some employers in the industrial sector, by calling for the abolition of sector-level agreements in favour of collective agreements at company level. The reactions of trade unions have been varied
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Wave of reorganisations at major Dutch groups: an end to the polder model?<#PDF_LINK>Early November 1998 marked the start of a turbulent period for the Dutch economy, with major company reorganisations announced at Philips, Shell, KPN and Baan, the causes of which varied widely. The largest trade union confederation, FNV, called for the cabinet to take measures to address the situation, while the VNO-NCW employers' confederation views FNV's reaction as being out of proportion. Nevertheless, it is too early to gauge the long-term consequences that this stand-off between employers and trade unions will have on the Dutch system of consultation (the so-called "polder model").
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Philips consults Dutch unions over reorganisation<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, Philips invited Dutch trade unions for further consultations concerning worldwide reorganisation plans. At the same time, a rapid series of reorganisations have been taking place across the company's Dutch operations over late 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Akzo cuts 200 research jobs<#PDF_LINK>The decentralisation of Akzo Nobel's research activities - announced in November 1998 - will result in the loss of 200 jobs in the Netherlands. The Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV) fears that short-term thinking will prevail in the wake of the chemicals group's decentralisation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Netherlands: Hospitals seek to extend working week<#PDF_LINK>In the forthcoming collective bargaining round, Dutch hospital employers will seek to establish exceptions to the current 36-hour working week for certain staff. This was the first objective announced in November 1998 when the hospitals decided to depart from the wide-ranging collective agreement that covers the entire care sector.
- 28 Nov 1998
Norway: Compromise reached over 1999 state Budget<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the Norwegian coalition government managed to reach an agreement with the opposition Conservative and Progress Parties on a new state Budget for 1999. The new agreement means that the government is abandoning earlier suggestions of tax and duty increases, along with controversial cuts in parental benefits and holiday entitlement.
- 28 Nov 1998
Norway: LO leader wants to debate mediation and industrial action rules<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the leader of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, Yngve Hågensen, called for a review of the present regulations concerning negotiations, mediation and industrial action. The proposal has been welcomed, but any changes to the present legal framework will not take place without thorough deliberation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Norway: Merger of teachers' unions proposed<#PDF_LINK>A single trade union organisation embracing all personnel in the Norwegian educational system may soon be a reality, according to a proposal approved by the delegates at the November 1998 national conference of the Teachers' Union Norway. The proposal was supported by a press statement issued by the Norwegian Union of Teachers, but there are many obstacles to be overcome before such a merger could be completed.
- 28 Nov 1998
Norway: International agreement on exchange of information and good working practice signed at Statoil<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, an agreement was concluded between the Norwegian oil company Statoil and national and international trade union organisations, on the exchange of information and the development of good working practice in all operations over which Statoil exercises direct control. The agreement commits Statoil to comply with the provisions of ILO Conventions that regulate employees' rights, and is applicable to Statoil's domestic as well as its international activities.
- 28 Nov 1998
Norway: NITO will remain a member of AF<#PDF_LINK>At its annual meeting in November 1998, the council of representatives of the Norwegian Society of Engineers (NITO) decided that the organisation should remain a member of the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF), rather than following the other affiliates to have left recently. The decision is based on AF being seen as the most viable alternative at present, but NITO stressed that recent developments and events within AF must be monitored closely.
- 28 Nov 1998
Portugal: Portuguese unions join in European railway workers' strike<#PDF_LINK>Portuguese railway workers' trade unions took strike action on 23 November 1998, as part of a European day of action in protest against the EU-led liberalisation of the sector. The Portuguese unions are particularly worried about the creation of private monopolies and about possible non-compliance with labour regulations in the industry.
- 28 Nov 1998
Sweden: New scheme enables employees to choose how their pension contributions are invested<#PDF_LINK>As from 1 October 1998, blue-collar workers can decide where to invest their supplementary pension contributions. This is one of the features of an entirely new pension scheme, established through a collective agreement between the LO trade union confederation and the SAF employers' confederation.
- 28 Nov 1998
Sweden: Sweden should not copy foreign models for mediation, mediators conclude<#PDF_LINK>A report by the two top mediators in Sweden concludes that the country should not try to copy the Danish or the Norwegian models for pay determination and mediation; these models have been shown to have specific flaws again in 1998. The report's conclusions are directed against proposals which an official committee is expected to present at the end of November 1998.
- 28 Nov 1998
Sweden: Exploratory talks start on a pact for growth<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, the Swedish Employers' Confederation and the three main trade union confederations revealed that they had begun "exploratory talks" with the aim of concluding a so-called pact for growth. This provoked speculation about the conclusion of a new basic agreement in line with the historic Saltsjöbaden agreement of 1938.
- 28 Nov 1998
Sweden: New working time arrangements lead to more full-time jobs<#PDF_LINK>During 1998 the number of full-time jobs in the Swedish municipalities has increased for the first time in the 1990s, according to a report published in November. This can probably be attributed to new working time arrangements.
- 28 Nov 1998
Sweden: Settlement on maritime subsidies may lead to hiring of non-EU labour<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, an agreement was reached between the Swedish government, ship-owners and trade unions concerning state subsidies to the maritime transport sector. The settlement means that a 1997 collective agreement allowing the hiring of seafarers from outside the EU can be put into effect.
- 28 Nov 1998
EU Countries: Teleworking and industrial relations in Europe<#PDF_LINK>This comparative study examines the industrial relations implications of teleworking across the EU Member States, plus Norway. It looks at the regulation of teleworking by law and collective agreement and the extent to which teleworking is affecting industrial relations, or might do so in the future.
- 28 Nov 1998
United Kingdom: IPD conference debates partnership at work<#PDF_LINK>At the annual conference of the Institute of Personnel and Development (IPD) held in October 1998, a seminar debating the changing face of employee relations highlighted how difficult it is for the UK social partners even to agree on what "partnership" means, never mind on how to make it work in practice.
- 28 Nov 1998
United Kingdom: Comprehensive survey maps contemporary workplace relations<#PDF_LINK>The first findings of the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey, released in October, reveal the shape of contemporary employment relations at the workplace in all but the smallest workplaces across Britain's economy. Some of the main findings are highlighted here.
- 28 Nov 1998
United Kingdom: Campaign for paid parental leave launched<#PDF_LINK>A trade union-backed campaign was launched in November 1998 to press the case for statutory parental leave, due to be introduced in the UK in 1999 in response to EU legislation, to include provision for payment during the period of leave.
- 28 Nov 1998
United Kingdom: Government publishes draft code of practice to combat age discrimination at work<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the UK government issued a draft code of practice designed to encourage employers to eliminate unfair age discrimination in employment. However, campaigners believe that legislation is needed if the fight against age discrimination is to be effective.
- 28 Nov 1998
United Kingdom: UK reaction to draft EU consultation Directive<#PDF_LINK>Proposals to regulate national rules on employee information and consultation, adopted by the European Commission in November 1998, have been welcomed by UK unions but opposed by employers and the Government.