February 1999
- 28 Feb 1999
Austria: New law aims to promote labour market integration of disabled people<#PDF_LINK>New legislation came into effect in Austria on 1 January 1999 that aims to increase both the quota of positions in organisations earmarked for workers with disabilities and the funds available to increase their employability on the open labour market. An element designed to prevent the possible onset of disability has also been included.
- 28 Feb 1999
Austria: 1999 banking settlement signed<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, following tough negotiations, a 2.2% pay rise was agreed for 1999 in the Austrian banking sector. Innovatively, it was also agreed that in the year 2000, pay will rise by the rate of inflation plus up to 0.7%, depending on 1999 business results.
- 28 Feb 1999
Austria: Metalworking makes little use of customised pay structures<#PDF_LINK>The "distribution option" was an innovation developed in the 1997 Austrian pay bargaining round, designed to increase the pay of targeted groups of workers and thereby encourage organisations to customise their pay structures. When tried out again in autumn 1998, the option seems to have met with less enthusiasm than before, according to information released in February 1999.
- 28 Feb 1999
Austria: Basic pay rises by 2.2% in 1998<#PDF_LINK>On average, basic wages and salaries rose by 2.2% in Austria in 1998. Mining and chemicals were amongst the industries with the highest rises whilst cleaning services and arts/entertainment were amongst the lowest. The index for average basic pay (1986=100) stood at 156.7 points.
- 28 Feb 1999
Belgium: Trade unions and unemployed associations defend privacy of jobless<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, Belgian Members of Parliament amended a government bill so as to limit the right of inspectors from the National Office for Employment to visit the homes of unemployed people and benefit claimants unannounced. The debate gave trade unions an opportunity to express their opposition to discrimination between benefit claimants according to their family situation, and to stress their objective of restoring individual entitlement to these benefits.
- 28 Feb 1999
Belgium: Social partners advocate tax credits to help unemployed find jobs<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, Belgium's bipartite National Labour Council and Central Economic Council jointly backed a proposal to increase the net pay of workers earning the national minimum wage by means of tax credits. The aim is to encourage unemployed people to take up low-paid jobs.
- 28 Feb 1999
Belgium: Dissatisfaction with IBM's pay flexibility policy<#PDF_LINK>IBM employees in Belgium have been working under a system of flexibility and partial pay "individualisation" since 1994. However, in January 1999 the CNE-LBC trade union and workplace union representatives challenged the way in which the compensatory bonus scheme based on company results and individual employees' performances is calculated.
- 28 Feb 1999
Belgium: Flemish employers and government focus on hard-to-fill vacancies<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, employers and government in Belgium each proposed ways to match workers with vacancies that are difficult to fill. The Flemish employers' organisation, VEV, launched a 10-point plan, while the government is proposing that older workers should be sought out to help deal with the problem.
- 28 Feb 1999
Belgium: Reorganisation at Volkswagen Forest threatens jobs<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, management at the Volkswagen Forest plant in Belgium started negotiating a plan with the trade unions to reorganise the factory. However, the atmosphere is strained, as it seems that some 1,300 jobs are under threat - not only the 1,000 "temporary workers" but also 300 workers on fixed-term contracts.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: Private sector collective bargaining coverage analysed<#PDF_LINK>According to figures published at the end of 1998, industry-level collective bargaining covered 49.0% of private sector west German establishments and 25.7% of private sector east German establishments in 1997. In addition, the number of German companies which are subject solely to company agreements further increased to 5,369 in 1998, and has more than doubled since 1990.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: Regional alliance for jobs, training and competitiveness in Northrhine Westphalia<#PDF_LINK>In December 1998, the main regional associations of trade unions, industry and employers, together with the government of the German federal state of Northrhine-Westpahlia, forged a regional alliance for jobs, training and competitiveness.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: METRO social and employment standards to be maintained in transferred companies<#PDF_LINK>METRO AG, the German retail group, is selling off 250 companies as part of a reorganisation plan. In February 1999, following talks with trade unions and works councils, the management boards of METRO and DIVACO - the firm which is managing the disposal of the companies - reinforced and fleshed out a previous statement on the continuation of the METRO group's employment and social standards at DIVACO.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: Majority of works councillors unconvinced about decentralisation of bargaining<#PDF_LINK>Nearly three-quarters of German works and staff councillors consider that decentralisation of the current system of branch-level collective bargaining has either negative or ambiguous effects. Only 12% are in favour of further decentralisation. These are among the findings of a 1997/8 survey from the WSI research institute, published recently.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: Growing numbers of employment pacts at establishment level<#PDF_LINK>In recent years, Germany has seen a growing number of "employment pacts" concluded at establishment level between management and works council. According to a 1999 study from the Hans Böckler Foundation, these agreements show great variety in their content, scope and complexity. However, most agreements follow a similar basic pattern: while the employees make concessions on working conditions, the employers give limited job guarantees.
- 28 Feb 1999
Germany: IG BCE and employers adopt joint declaration on partnership and branch-level bargaining<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, the German Mining, Chemicals and Energy Union (IG BCE) and 22 employers' associations expressed their support in principle for the German system of branch-level collective bargaining and for its further development.
- 28 Feb 1999
Denmark: Agriculture and forestry heading for sixth week of annual leave<#PDF_LINK>New two-year collective agreements were concluded in January 1999 for Denmark's agriculture and forestry sector, including horticulture, the dairy industry and abattoirs. The outcomes were similar to the provisions of the government's intervention to end the main private sector collective bargaining round in spring 1998, with three additional days off per year and a total rise in costs of 7.5% over the two years. Two main bargaining areas remained to be settled in early 1999 - the public sector and the finance sector.
- 28 Feb 1999
Denmark: Early retirement scheme finally concluded<#PDF_LINK>A revised early retirement scheme is due to come into force in Denmark in 1999, which includes specific employee contributions towards the scheme. Following trade union pressure, the Minister of Labour has announced that the Constitution guarantees that all such early retirement payments will be refunded if the scheme is abolished in the future. While this should clear the main obstacles to parliamentary approval of the changes, some unanswered questions remain.
- 28 Feb 1999
Denmark: New Working Environment Council established<#PDF_LINK>As of January 1999, Denmark's Working Environment Council has been reformed and given a different role, while 11 new branch working environment councils have been created.
- 28 Feb 1999
Denmark: Strong demand for training places<#PDF_LINK>According to the LO trade union confederation, there is an immediate need for around 8,500 training places in Denmark in early 1999. This is seen as a significant problem, since many young people never acquire skills, and the situation could lead to future shortages of qualified labour.
- 28 Feb 1999
Spain: Controversial ruling on domestic workers<#PDF_LINK>A Spanish court ruling issued in February 1999 has maintained that domestic work does not involve physical effort. It has reopened debate on the nature of domestic work and the employment status of domestic workers.
- 28 Feb 1999
Spain: Disagreement over workforce reorganisation at newly merged BSCH bank<#PDF_LINK>Spanish trade unions have rejected a set of guarantees on employment proposed by the management of the newly-created Banco Santander Central Hispano (BSCH) at the start of 1999. There is now little chance of reaching an agreement on employment levels before the March 1999 merger of Banco Santander and Banco Central Hispano.
- 28 Feb 1999
Spain: Confrontation over non-contributory pensions in Andalucia<#PDF_LINK>The regional government of Andalucia has introduced a greater increase in the level of non-contributory pension benefits for 1999 than the figure agreed for the rest of Spain. Central government has threatened to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court unless the increase is cancelled.
- 28 Feb 1999
Spain: 35-hour week gets off to a troubled start<#PDF_LINK>Late 1998 and early 1999 saw the first agreements between the social partners aimed at introducing the 35-hour working week in Spain, in order to help create jobs. However, the deals - mainly concluded in regional and local authorities - have met opposition from central government and criticism from the main employers' organisation, CEOE. Indeed, central government has taken action through the courts to suspend certain agreements.
- 28 Feb 1999
Spain: Current developments in trade union elections<#PDF_LINK>In Spain, the number of representatives obtained in workforce elections is the key factor determining the legitimacy of trade unions in representing workers for the purposes of collective bargaining and employee participation. The unions' memberhip figures play only a secondary role. We review trends in the union elections since 1978, and focus on the results of the 1998 elections, which confirmed the predominance of the CC.OO and UGT confederations, withe the former in the leading position.
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: New era in sectoral social dialogue takes shape<#PDF_LINK>In May 1998, the European Commission adopted a Decision which set in train a shake-up in the organisation of the European-level sectoral social dialogue. The Decision provided for the establishment of new "sectoral dialogue committees" to replace the existing joint committees, informal working groups and non-structured discussion groups. By 1 February 1999, the social partners in almost all sectors with existing dialogues had submitted their applications for the establishment of the new committees, while new sectors are also seeking to join the dialogue. The reorganisation has led to some restructuring of the dialogue and is expected to provide the impetus for innovation and renewed focused activity at this level, along the lines of the priorities outlined in the EU Employment Guidelines, particularly in their "adaptability pillar".
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: Social partners assess implications of internal electricity market<#PDF_LINK>On the eve of the introduction of a European internal market in electricity in February 1999, the social partners in the electricity industry held a workshop in Brussels in order to assess the implications of the internal market and restructuring on companies and employees. The workshop, which took place on 18 January 1999, was attended by around 100 employer and employee representatives from across the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe. Discussion at the workshop focused on the impact of restructuring on employment, the need for greater customer orientation, and equal opportunities for women and men.
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: Commission proposes experimental job creation initiative through VAT cuts<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, the European Commission presented long-discussed proposals for a Directive which would allow Member States to apply a lower rate of VAT to labour-intensive services. This is aimed at creating jobs, particularly in services which are often performed in the underground economy.
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: European trade union action day at Unilever<#PDF_LINK>A European day of action was organised in February 1999 by trade unions representing workers at Unilever. Unions were protesting against what they perceive as a lack of information and consultation prior to the recent closure of various of the company's European sites. Unions also sought to highlight the detrimental impact of Unilever's rationalisation policy on employment.
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: Commission assesses impact of abolition of duty-free on employment<#PDF_LINK>In response to a request by the European Council and the support by the UK and German governments for calls to safeguard the future of duty-free sales, in February 1999 the European Commission issued an assessment of the impact of the abolition of EU duty-free sales on employment. The Commission's analysis, based on national studies, argues that the loss of duty-free would not have a significant impact on employment.
- 28 Feb 1999
EU Level: Uncertainty over definition of European employment pact<#PDF_LINK>The German EU Presidency of the first half of 1999 is keen to achieve agreement on a "European employment pact" similar to that recently agreed in Germany. However, progress in this area has so far been limited and an informal meeting of social affairs minister in Bonn in February produced few concrete results.
- 28 Feb 1999
Finland: Air traffic controllers' action raises question of limitation of key groups' right to strike<#PDF_LINK>The members of the independent Finnish Air Traffic Controllers' Association went on strike on 1 February 1999. They are demanding a wage increase of about 30% over three years, and threatening to look for work elsewhere in Europe where pay levels are higher. The dispute brought to the fore the employers' demand that the right to strike of key groups should be restricted. This demand faces stiff opposition from the labour movement on the grounds that it would violate workers' fundamental rights.
- 28 Feb 1999
Finland: Stora Enso cuts 2,000 jobs<#PDF_LINK>The recently merged Finnish-Swedish forestry products group, Stora Enso, announced in January 1999 that it would be cutting its workforce by 2,000 employees during the next few years, owing to the overlap resulting from the merger. The Finnish Paper Workers' Union expressed shock at the announcement and suggested that such decisions undermine Finland's current incomes policy agreement.
- 28 Feb 1999
Finland: AKAVA proposes new working time scheme<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, as part of the current debate on working time in Finland, the AKAVA trade union confederation launched an idea for a new scheme known as "contractual leave". Under the scheme, working time (eg time off in lieu for overtime) could be saved in a working time "bank", while extra pay and bonuses could be saved in a sabbatical leave fund. The time and money thus saved could then be used for taking long periods of leave.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Universal Health Insurance system to be created<#PDF_LINK>As part of its overall battle against social exclusion, in January 1999, the French government tabled legislation which should pave the way for the establishment of a Universal Health Insurance (CMU) system by 1 January 2000. This would allow "the whole population access to all types of medical treatment". While there is general consensus among the social partners on the aims of the legislation, there is much debate on the way it is to be implemented.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: CFDT and CGT hold congresses and move closer together<#PDF_LINK>The two largest French trade union confederations unions, CFDT and CGT, held their congresses in December 1998 and January-February 1999 respectively. The major issue for both confederations was the consolidation of strategic orientations already in place. The congresses confirmed that the two organisations are moving closer together, which could significantly alter the contours of the French union movement in the medium term.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Flagship agreement on working time cuts at EDF-GDF<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999, a framework agreement on the reduction of working time and new recruitment was signed at EDF-GDF, the French gas and electricity utility, by management and all five major trade unions. The new deal followed a 1997 agreement signed only by minority unions, which was subsequently annulled by the courts after non-signatory unions challenged it. Employees voted massively in favour of the new agreement.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Working time cut at Air France against backdrop of privatisation<#PDF_LINK>Air France was successfully floated on the stock exchange in February 1999, though the state will remain the majority shareholder. At the same time, an agreement to reduce working time for ground staff proved controversial, leading to strikes among maintenance personnel, while pilots have expressed their dissatisfaction.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: 35-hour week introduced in exchange for greater flexibility at Peugeot-Citroën<#PDF_LINK>The motor manufacturer, PSA Peugeot-Citroën, has become France's first major private sector group to implement the 35-hour working week, following an agreement in February 1999. The deal, approved by all the unions except CGT, provides for the reduction of working time with no loss of pay, in exchange for greater flexibility.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: 35-hour week agreement at post office divides unions<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, a framework agreement introducing a 35-hour working week was concluded at France's state-owned post office, La Poste. However, while four trade unions signed the agreement (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC and CGT-FO), two others (CGT and SUD-PTT) refused to do so, claiming that it would create only a small number of jobs.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Industrial disputes decline in 1997<#PDF_LINK>Ministry of Labour statistics for 1997 show that the low level of conflict in French industrial relations has been maintained. This trend is now well established over a long period of time.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Paribas and Société Générale merge<#PDF_LINK>On 1 January 1999, the French banks Societé Générale and Paribas announced a merger, taking the form of a security swap from 1 February 1999. All the trade unions are concerned about the impact of the merger on jobs, despite management assurances that there will be no forced redundancies in France.
- 28 Feb 1999
France: Industrial action hits public education<#PDF_LINK>Late 1998 and early 1999 have seen a series of strike and protest movements among workers in the French public education system, sparked off by the government's wide-ranging programme of educational reforms.
- 28 Feb 1999
Greece: Telecommunications workers make demands for new collective agreement<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, the OME-OTE telecommunications workers union announced to the government and the OTE telecoms operator that it was seeking negotiations over a new company collective agreement at OTE. The union's demands cover economic and institutional issues, and for the first time officially contain a claim for a reduction of working time without loss of pay.
- 28 Feb 1999
Greece: Intracom announces 35-hour week<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999 it was announced that a 35-hour working week would be introduced at Intracom, Greece's leading telecommunications and information technology company.
- 28 Feb 1999
Greece: Employers reply to GSEE call for 35-hour week talks<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999, Greece's main employers' organisations - SEV, GSEVEE and ESEE - replied to an invitation from the GSEE trade union confederation to enter negotiations on the introduction of a 35-hour working week. The employers are willing to enter a dialogue but remain opposed to any reduction in working time
- 28 Feb 1999
Greece: Ministry seeks to improve collection of workplace health and safety data<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999, Greece's Ministry of Labour and Social Security sent an urgent circular on health and safety and risk assessment to all Prefectures. The aim is to address the current lack of statistical data on workplace health and safety.
- 28 Feb 1999
Ireland: Childcare a major issue as government considers new report<#PDF_LINK>Childcare is now a key policy issue in Ireland, with trade unions and employers urging the government to act on the recommendations, published in February 1999, of a working group established under the Partnership 2000 national agreement. The government has decided to refer the report to a new "interdepartmental" group for further consideration well in advance of the next Budget, due in December 1999.
- 28 Feb 1999
Ireland: Compromise on union recognition for managers at National Irish Bank<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, the Irish Labour Court ruled that the National Irish Bank may talk directly to its managers about pay issues on a one-to-one basis, but must recognise their trade union, the Irish Bank Officials Association, in respect of all other matters.
- 28 Feb 1999
Ireland: Partnership committees agreed in all government departments<#PDF_LINK>The two-year period up until early 1999 has seen the rapid development of "partnership" activities in the Irish public sector, with all government departments establishing formal "partnership committees" comprising management and trade union nominees.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: National collective agreement signed for tourism industry<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999 the new national collective agreement for the Italian tourism industry was signed. The most innovative aspects of the agreement are: a jointly managed employment service for the sector; a working time reduction; the introduction of temporary work; the extension of decentralised bargaining; wage increases; a complementary pension scheme; and the extension of apprenticeship. The agreement will expire at the end of 2001, in order to avoid conflicts in the year of the Millenium celebrations.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: National agreement signed for healthcare sector and regional environmental agencies<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999, the Aran public sector employers' body and the sectoral trade unions signed a new national collective agreement for Italy's healthcare sector and regional environmental protection agencies. The most important points of the agreement include new industrial relations rules, a new job classification, pay increases, working time reductions and measures on fighting child labour.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: Workers demonstrate in Milan to defend safety and show solidarity with immigrants<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, 150,000 people took part in a demonstration in Milan, northern Italy, called by the Cgil, Cisl and Uil trade union confederations. The aim was to highlight citizens' safety and solidarity towards non-EU immigrants.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: 700 jobs saved at Postalmarket<#PDF_LINK>The Italian mail order company, Postalmarket, was sold recently, following threats of closure. In January 1999, the new owner signed an agreement with trade unions which provides for a large-scale restructuring plan, the protection of many jobs, and a doubling of share capital, aimed at relaunching the company.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: First district-level concertation agreement signed in Rome<#PDF_LINK>In November 1998, the first district-level "concertation agreement" between local authorities and trade unions was signed in Italy. The agreement, covering Rome's 5th district, lays down methods and objectives aimed at enhancing the area's productive development and the quality of life and of the urban environment. The agreement sets out the procedures, levels and contents of concertation and dialogue between the parties.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: Social pact implemented in Piedmont<#PDF_LINK>In January 1999, an agreement to foster development and employment was signed by the regional authorities, local bodies and social partners inPiedmont, northern Italy. The deal was the first regional initiative to implement December 1998's national "social pact for development and employment".
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: Sectoral bargaining provides important test on hours, flexibility and bargaining structure<#PDF_LINK>According to recent estimates, in 1999 around 9 million Italian workers will be involved in the round of renewals of sectoral collective agreements. These are especially important negotiations because they come immediately after December 1998's confirmation of the July 1993 national tripartite agreement and will represent an important test of its robustness. There are numerous issues on the agenda, including pay increases, work flexibility, reduced working hours, and the relative importance to be attributed to sectoral and company-level bargaining.
- 28 Feb 1999
Italy: Debate begins on flexibility in small firms<#PDF_LINK>At present, Italy's Workers' Statute, which sets out certain employment rights, does not apply to firms with fewer than 15 employees. In January 1999, the Prime Minister, Massimo D'Alema, proposed that - in order to encourage the growth of small firms - the provisions of the Statute, should, as a temporary measure, also not be applied to firms which grow over the 15-employee threshold.
- 28 Feb 1999
Luxembourg: Talks in banking prove difficult<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, talks to renew the collective agreement for the Luxembourg banking sector were proving particularly difficult, not least because of the markedly different views held by the three trade unions involved.
- 28 Feb 1999
Luxembourg: Chamber of Deputies to vote on employment plan<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies was due to approve the country's National Action Plan on employment, following numerous amendments and lengthy delays.
- 28 Feb 1999
Netherlands: Occupational disability: a Dutch disease?<#PDF_LINK>The number of occupationally disabled employees in the Netherlands remains significantly higher than in any other European country, with figures still on the rise in 1998. However, government proposals advanced in January 1999 containing seemingly minor amendments to the Occupational Disability Insurance Act (WAO) have aroused substantial criticism. Employers and employees are divided over how the issue should be tackled.
- 28 Feb 1999
Netherlands: Unions and temporary agencies agree over consequences of new Act<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, trade unions and the ABU temporary employers' organisation reached a collective agreement on the consequences of the Flexibility and Security Act, which took effect on 1 January 1999. An agreement dealing with the Act's consequences was also reached in the primary education sector, following intervention by parliament and the ministers concerned.
- 28 Feb 1999
Netherlands: Work and care framework bill proposes family care leave<#PDF_LINK>New draft legislation will - if enacted - grant Dutch employees the right to a maximum of 10 days' paid leave to care for an ill member of their immediate family. The proposal forms part of a groundbreaking new "work and care" Act, also covering adoption leave, long-term unpaid family care leave and part-time employment, presented by state secretary Annelies Verstand-Bogaert of the Ministry of Social Affairs in February 1999.
- 28 Feb 1999
Norway: Pay up 6.5% in 1998<#PDF_LINK>Pay growth in Norway in 1998 is estimated to have been around 6.25% - significantly higher than in previous years. Over the year, prices rose by 2.3%, and the average real income growth after tax was 3.7%. These are among the findings of the February 1999 report of Technical Calculating Committee on Income Settlements, setting the scene for the 1999 bargaining round.
- 28 Feb 1999
Norway: Three unions to merge in financial sector<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, the first steps were taken in the direction of creating a new trade union for employees in the Norwegian financial sector, when three unions decided to merge. The new organisation, to be called the Finance Sector Union, will have some 36,500 members.
- 28 Feb 1999
Norway: LO takes on new role as consumer and service organisation<#PDF_LINK>During 1999, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) is introducing a new membership card scheme, which includes both traditional membership services as well as a package deal which provides several consumer benefits.
- 28 Feb 1999
Norway: AF elects new leader<#PDF_LINK>Following the resignation of the incumbent, Aud Blankholm was elected as the new leader of the Federation of Norwegian Professional Associations (AF) on 28 January 1999. Rule changes and an evaluation of union policies were also approved by the troubled union confederation's representative committee.
- 28 Feb 1999
Portugal: Report examines child labour situation<#PDF_LINK>Child labour has been a high-profile issue in Portugal for some years. A report from the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity, published in January 1999, examines work by children aged six to 15 and shows how non-remunerated family work fits into the child labour picture. Previous studies have already shown this to be a complex issue and have called attention to the need to look at both paid and unpaid work among minors, and to protect the minors involved by providing training, job skills and social protection.
- 28 Feb 1999
Portugal: Doctors' self-service strike raises questions of legality<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, the Portuguese SIM doctors' trade union called off a long-running "self-service" strike, whereby its individual members could choose when they withdrew their labour. The dispute sparked widespread discussion on the legitimacy of this type of strike and on the general issue of public servants' right to strike.
- 28 Feb 1999
Portugal: Focus on low pay in textiles<#PDF_LINK>In early 1999, the issue of low pay in the textiles and footwear industry is once again on the industrial relations agenda in Portugal, with trade unions claiming that high profits and productivity increases merit higher pay in a sector that makes up over a third of all Portuguese industrial employment.
- 28 Feb 1999
Portugal: Nurses fight for career path restructuring<#PDF_LINK>Portuguese nurses' trade unions launched rotating strike action in February 1999, in a dispute over the revision of nurses' career paths, in response to recent changes affecting other professional groups.
- 28 Feb 1999
Portugal: Portuguese Railways proposes arbitration to settle dispute<#PDF_LINK>January and February 1999 saw strike action by train drivers on Portuguese Railways (CP), in a dispute over company restructuring and training. Management proposed recourse to an independent arbitration committee - an innovative approach to conflict resolution in the Portuguese context - but the proposal met with little enthusiasm on the part of the trade union.
- 28 Feb 1999
Sweden: Do employers tend to exaggerate plans for redundancies?<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998 and early 1999, many export-oriented Swedish companies announced plans for widespread redundancies. Many critics claim that such announcements of large cutbacks in jobs are often exaggerated and, as a result, cause unnecessary worry for employees. The employers state that they are now subject to greater pressures from shareholders than they were 10 years ago.
- 28 Feb 1999
Sweden: Employers need not reveal pay records, Commission rules<#PDF_LINK>The Scania truck company is not obliged to hand over individual pay records of all its employees - non-union members as well as members of other trade unions - to the Swedish Union for Technical and Clerical Employees in Industry (SIF). This follows a decision in January 1999 by the Equal Opportunities Commission, in a case relating to equal pay for women and men.
- 28 Feb 1999
Sweden: Bus drivers strike for improved working conditions<#PDF_LINK>Around 16,000 drivers and mechanics employed in private bus transport went on strike in Sweden on 25 February 1999, seeking better pay and working conditions, including scheduled rest breaks.
- 28 Feb 1999
Sweden: Engineering employers withdraw from agreement on suggestion schemes<#PDF_LINK>In February 1999, the Association of Swedish Engineering Industries (VI) withdrew from a collective agreement on suggestion schemes between itself and four trade unions. The employers consider that the agreement causes too many disputes and would prefer local agreements in the future.
- 28 Feb 1999
Sweden: Assi Domän workers go sick after announcement of job losses<#PDF_LINK>On 22 February 1999, the production of pulp at Assi Domän Kraftliner in the northern Swedish city of Piteå resumed after a hold-up of one week. A number of workers had taken sick leave after the employer announced that 110 workers out of a total workforce of 630 were to be made redundant.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: Employment Relations Bill published<#PDF_LINK>In late January 1999, the UK government published an Employment Relations Bill to give effect to its proposals on "fairness at work". The Bill is expected to complete the legislative process by late summer. This feature outlines its provisions.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: Non-union forms of employee representation<#PDF_LINK>The publication in November 1998 of a draft EU Directive on employee information and consultation has focused attention on the implications of such requirements for non-union enterprises in the UK. A recent review of research into the extent and significance of non-union forms of collective employee representation in the UK finds that they have been rare and ineffective in the absence of legal or other support, but that changing legal frameworks and managerial strategies may enhance their future importance.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: Productivity, competitiveness and the knowledge-driven economy: a new agenda?<#PDF_LINK>The UK economy continues to experience lower rates of productivity than its major competitors. In December 1998, the Government published a white paper outlining a variety of measures aimed at shifting the economy into a new era of success, based upon the idea of a "knowledge-driven economy". This feature outlines the background to the white paper, its main features and the implications for industrial relations.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: Increase in union recognition ahead of statutory procedure<#PDF_LINK>A survey by the TUC trade union confederation, published in February 1999, suggests that UK companies are increasingly ready to reach voluntary union recognition deals. Unions say that the prospect of statutory intervention stemming from the current Employment Relations Bill is already influencing employer attitudes. At the same time, unions fear that the new legislation will give a boost to the activities of "union-busting" consultants in the UK.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: UK social partners welcome euro changeover plan<#PDF_LINK>The Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress both welcomed the UK "national changeover plan" for potential UK entry into the European single currency, which was outlined by the Prime Minister in a statement to the House of Commons in February 1999.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: National minimum wage moves a step nearer<#PDF_LINK>Draft Regulations governing the detailed application of the UK's national minimum wage were laid before Parliament in February 1999 and will come into force from the beginning of April. Employers' organisations have welcomed modifications made by the government, but trade unions and low pay campaigners are unhappy that there will be no obligation to state the national minimum wage on workers' payslips.
- 28 Feb 1999
United Kingdom: New research on the individualisation of employment contracts<#PDF_LINK>Many UK companies have replaced collective bargaining with individual employment contracts, but research published in February 1999 by the Department of Trade and Industry suggests that this has generally resulted in the greater standardisation of terms and conditions of employment.