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October 2000

• 28 Oct 2000
  Austria: Youth employment measures and new apprenticeships

  In 2000, as part of its National Action Plan for employment, the Austrian government has taken a number of measures aimed at promoting youth employment. This has included the introduction of several new apprenticeships, which has met with strong criticism from organisations representing employees. The debate has highlighted growing conflict between the social partners on youth training issues.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Austria: Collective bargaining round starts

  September 2000 saw the opening of Austria's autumn bargaining round in the private sector, with negotiations starting in the pattern-setting metalworking industry. In a new development, the electrical and electronics subsector will negotiate certain issues separately.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Belgium: Fuel price increases spark unrest

  In September 2000, lorry drivers demonstrated against increases in petrol prices and paralysed the Belgian economy for several days. An agreement was reached between two of the three road haulage employers' federations and the government, but in the meantime the action had spread to other sectors. Measures were taken to respond to the action taken, but in the end, the Prime Minister had to intervene to calm things down, and call for all demands to be put on hold until 17 October 2000.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Germany: New agreement signed for west German textiles industry

  In September 2000, the social partners in the west German textiles industry signed a new collective agreement, thereby averting an imminent industrial dispute. After four unsuccessful rounds of negotiations, the IG Metall union had announced strike ballots and industrial action if the employers did not comply with union demands for an improved wage settlement and regulations on partial retirement.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Germany: IG Medien to opt out of national Alliance for Jobs

  At an extraordinary congress held in September 2000, the IG Medien media workers' trade union decided to opt out of Germany's national tripartite Alliance for Job. It was the first affiliate of the DGB union confederation to take this step.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Germany: New company agreements signed at Volkswagen AG

  In September 2000, the collective bargaining parties at Volkswagen AG in Germany concluded new company agreements which provide for pay increases, as well as an extension of existing agreements on bonus systems, supplementary pensions and partial retirement.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Germany: IG Metall launches fair share campaign for fairer wealth distribution

  In October 2000, the IG Metall metalworkers' union launched a "fair share" campaign, aimed at initiating a broad public debate on the distribution of wealth and poverty in Germany. For IG Metall, the principal goal of this debate should be the development of new concepts for an active distribution policy, guaranteeing all citizens "equal participation rights" through a fairer distribution of wealth.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Germany: Joint statement by German, Irish, Spanish and UK unions on EU consultation Directive

  In the run-up to the EU Employment and Social Policy Council meeting on 17 October 2000, trade union confederations from Germany, Ireland, Spain and the UK issued a joint statement calling on their governments to support the draft Directive on national information and consultation arrangements. In the event, the Council discussed the proposal and referred it for further debate.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Denmark: Copenhagen childcare cuts withdrawn after long strike

  Planned cut-backs in childcare provision in the municipality of Copenhagen led to a strike among childcare staff in September-October 2000. After more than three weeks of strike action, the municipal council withdrew a decision to reduce the opening hours of daycare institutions. The childcare workers' trade unions see the result of the protracted industrial dispute as a victory, in spite of the fact that the employees are facing sanctions for holding an unlawful strike.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Denmark: Denmark votes no to the euro

  On 28 September 2000, the Danish electorate voted by 53.2% to 46.8% not to participate in the third stage of EU Economic and Monetary Union and the euro single currency. Most social partner organisations had called for a "yes" vote to the euro. The labour movement was divided on the question, with trade union leaders strongly recommending a "yes", but many rank-and-file members voting "no".

• 28 Oct 2000
  Spain: First national agreement signed for audio-visual technicians

  At the end of June 2000, a first national collective agreement was signed for technicians employed by audio-visual production companies in Spain. The agreement is an important step forward in the regulation of employment conditions in a sector with little tradition of collective bargaining. The agreement provides for a 35-hour working week and major pay improvements.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Spain: Government intervenes in Sintel dispute

  Sintel, a Spanish telephone installation company and a former subsidiary of Telefónica, has been involved in a serious industrial dispute since February 2000 over unpaid wages, redundancy procedures and the suspension of payments. In September, at the initiative of the trade unions, the government agreed to intervene and to seek a negotiated solution to guarantee the future of jobs and the company.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Spain: Disagreement over civil service pay and conditions

  In September 2000, the Spanish government convened a meeting of the General Civil Service Commission, the joint body which negotiates civil servants' pay and conditions. The meeting coincided with the cabinet meeting to set the national budget for 2001, in which civil service pay is fixed. Trade unions accused the government of thus excluding real negotiations and instead merely conducting a "courtesy interview". The government considers the talks closed, but the unions are planning mobilisations.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Spain: Fuel dispute settled without trade union intervention

  A dispute over rising fuel prices broke out in autumn 2000 between the Spanish government and employers and self-employed workers in transport, agriculture and fishing. The conflict, which was a major cause of public concern, was finally settled in October. The trade unions, surprisingly. played no role in this dispute.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: No agreement on working time in road transport

  Consensus on the regulation of working hours in the road transport sector remained elusive at the meeting of the EU Transport Council of Ministers held on 2 October 2000. However, a further meeting is scheduled for December 2000.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: UNI takes position on green cards

  The issue of shortages of information technology (IT) professionals in the EU, and the possible subsequent introduction of "green cards" for non-EU workers in this area, has been highly topical during 2000. In September 2000, UNI-Europa's IBITS committee, representing trade unions organising IT workers, adopted a position paper on the matter.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: Draft EU Charter of fundamental rights agreed

  The final draft EU Charter of fundamental rights, which sets out a variety of social and economic rights, was adopted by the drafting Convention in October 2000. The draft, which recognises trade union rights, the right to strike, the right to collective bargaining and the right to worker information and consultation, was to be considered at the October Biarritz European Council.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: Council reaches political agreement on framework anti-discrimination Directive

  In October 2000, the EU Employment and Social Policy Council of Ministers reached political agreement on a revised text of the proposal for a framework Directive for equal treatment in employment and occupation. The Council also discussed issues such as the proposed Directive on informing and consulting workers at national level.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: Report highlights health and safety risks facing workers

  A study of the state of occupational safety and health in the European Union was published by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in September 2000. The report identifies construction as the most dangerous sector, while work as a labourer in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport is the most hazardous occupation. The study also highlights stress as the area where most preventive action is necessary. The report has been welcomed by the European Commission as a valuable contribution in the preparation of its occupational safety and health strategy.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Level: Commission issues new employment package

  The European Commission issued a new package of proposals aimed at encouraging employment growth in the European Union in September 2000. The package comprises three draft documents – a review of Member States' employment and labour market initiatives in 2000, recommendations for improvements in the implementation of their policies, and Employment Guidelines to Member States for their 2001 National Action Plans on employment.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Finland: Controversy as paper workers stick to bargaining timetable

  In October 2000, the Finnish Paper Workers' Union announced that it will follow the bargaining timetable set out in its current collective agreement and negotiate on wage increases in January 2001. The goal of the central social partner organisations has been to conclude a centralised incomes policy agreement in November 2000. This difference in timetable is causing controversy as the bargaining round approaches.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Finland: Social partners issue demands for incomes policy round

  In September 2000, the Finnish social partners and government started preparations for the forthcoming bargaining round, which may take place at central level. Trade unions have made a number of "qualitative" demands, such as a cut in working time and a pay indexation clause to guarantee purchasing power in the event that inflation is higher than estimated. The employers take a negative view of the growing weight given to qualitative issues and do not see an indexation clause as appropriate to the era of Economic and Monetary Union.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Finland: Accelerating inflation aggravates bargaining round

  In autumn 2000, high inflation and the weak euro have caused concern as Finland's bargaining round starts. Most of the wage increases agreed in the sector-level bargaining round in spring 2000 have vanished due to increased inflation, and the rise in purchasing power will be lower than forecast. Given this background, the bargaining round is expected to be complicated.

• 28 Oct 2000
  France: Civil service employment observatory created

  In September 2000, a new observatory was created for the collection and distribution of information pertaining to employment in the French civil service. It will also monitor the evolution of jobs and civil servants' skills - areas where information is currently lacking.

• 28 Oct 2000
  France: Industrial action breaks out in public transport

  In September 2000, French public transport was hit by a number of strikes. The conflicts centred mainly on pay, reflecting a widespread feeling among French workers that, after years of wage restraint, they are now entitled to a share of current economic growth.

• 28 Oct 2000
  France: Government refuses to endorse new version of unemployment insurance agreement

  During 2000, the French social partners have been attempting to negotiate an agreement to reform the jointly-managed UNEDIC unemployment insurance system. The government refused to endorse an agreement signed in June by employers' organisations and two trade union confederations (CFDT and CFTC) and asked the signatories to amend a number of provisions. A new agreement was concluded in September, to which a third union confederation (CFE-CGC) signed up. However, for the second time, the government refused to endorse the deal on the grounds that the amendments did not go far enough in addressing the criticisms leveled at the initial agreement. A third version is in preparation.

• 28 Oct 2000
  France: Moves to lift ban on women's night work

  The French government has proposed a legislative amendment to lift the statutory ban on women's night work in industry, thus clearing up long-standing legal confusion and bringing national law into line with EU law. However, on 3 October 2000, against all expectations, the Senate voted down the government amendment.

• 28 Oct 2000
  France: Protests over fuel price rises

  In September 2000, in the wake of major increases in fuel prices, a series of protest actions and demonstrations disrupted activity in a number of French industries, such as fishing, agriculture, road transport (goods haulage, coach operations and taxi services) and health (ambulance crews).

• 28 Oct 2000
  Greece: GSEE calls for measures to respond to oil price increases

  With oil price rises triggering increased inflation in autumn 2000, Greek trade unions are concerned about the effects on the incomes of workers and pensioners. In September, the GSEE union confederation called on the government to take immediate measures to address the situation and posed the question of renegotiating the pay terms of the National General Collective Labour Agreement and lower-level collective agreements, if this becomes necessary.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Greece: Flexibility in Greek labour market widespread but inadequate, report claims

  The Greek labour market is quite flexible, but it does not meet companies' expectations and objectives. This is one of the main findings of a report from the Economic and Industrial Research Institute (IOVE), published in September 2000, based on a survey of companies in industry, services and the retail trade.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Ireland: Workers and trade unions seek compensation package for rising inflation

  With the inflation rate standing at 6.2% in September 2000, Ireland's national agreement, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF) has come under mounting pressure as low-paid workers and their trade unions seek pay increases to compensate for increases in the cost of living. Events in the coming months, particularly the publication of the national budget for 2001 in early December, will be crucial in determining whether the PPF will remain intact.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Ireland: Guinness unions seek to define EWC consultation after job cuts announced

  In autumn 2000, in the context of job cuts announced by management, trade unions at Guinness Ireland threatened to take the issue of what constitutes "consultation" of a European Works Council to the European Court of Justice, if necessary. This move could establish ground-rules for all other EWCs.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Ireland: Unions raise stakes over compensation for inflation in national pay deal

  In October 2000, a series of social partner talks, aimed at addressing Ireland's surge in inflation above nationally-agreed pay increases, assumed new urgency after trade unions began to demand compensatory pay increases rather than just tax concessions.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Italy: Strike in the schools sector

  On 27 September 2000, negotiations between the Italian government and teachers' trade unions broke down due to profound differences over the amount of resources to be allocated for teachers' pay. The Cgil, Cisl, Uil and Snals trade unions called a national strike on 9 October while the autonomous unions, Gilda and Cobas, called a national strike on 16 October.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Italy: Northern League trade union wins election at Michelin plant

  In September 2000, elections to the Rsu worker representative body were held at the Michelin plant located at Cuneo in northern Italy. Sindacato Padano (SinPa), the trade union promoted by the separatist Northern League, participated in the election for the first time and won more votes than any of the three main union confederations, Cgil, Cisl and Uil.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Italy: Cisl general secretary resigns

  In October 2000, Sergio D'Antoni, the general secretary of Italy's Cisl trade union confederation, announced his resignation to concentrate on a new political organisation. The Cisl executive committee has appointed Savino Pezzotta as the confederation's new general secretary. Mr D'Antoni's initiative may have implications for Italian politics and trade unionism.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Luxembourg: Social plan agreed at Thomas & Betts

  Following the announcement of the closure of the Thomas & Betts' electronics plant in Luxembourg, which has been taken over by the Tyco Electronics Corporation, management and trade unions negotiated a social plan in September 2000, whereby employees will receive compensation amounting to an average of one year's pay.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Luxembourg: Vehicle-maintenance workers turn down employers' offer

  Talks over a new collective agreement for the Luxembourg vehicle-maintenance sector stalled in June 1999. In summer 2000, they resumed following the employers' decision to drop their demand for greater working time flexibility. However, agreement has once again been blocked by the trade unions' claim for an end-of-year bonus, and in September workers rejected the employers' latest offer.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Luxembourg: Tax cuts announced

  In September 2000, the Luxembourg government announced a tax reform that will substantially reduce the tax paid by households from 1 January 2001. As a result, Luxembourg will, it is claimed, have the EU's lowest maximum rate of income tax from 2002 onwards. The trade unions have criticised the measures on the grounds that they will have no impact on the purchasing power of low-income households that pay no tax at all.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Netherlands: Social partners dissatisfied with distribution of financial windfalls in 2001 budget

  The Dutch government's 2001 budget, announced in September 2000, will use a major surplus to ease the tax and contribution burden on companies and individuals, accelerate repayment of government debt, and provide extra resources for the public sector. Nonetheless, the social partners are dissatisfied and feel that investments and tax and contribution cuts are still distributed unevenly. While employers are calling for additional investment in physical infrastructure, the unions believe that problems in the public sector are not being taken seriously enough.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Netherlands: Position of works councils examined

  The year 2000 marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of works councils in the Netherlands. A recent extensive survey among works councils and managers finds that the works council has since become a widely accepted institution. At the same time, however, the position of the works council is threatened by a number of developments.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Netherlands: Wildcat strikes against railway organisation plan

  September 2000 saw a number of wildcat strikes by employees at Dutch Railways (NS) against management's latest plans to streamline the organisation. The largest rail workers' union, Allied Unions, did not officially support the strikes.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Norway: Public committee proposes controversial changes to sick pay scheme

  In September 2000, a public committee with broad representation from the social partners made a proposal to amend the Norwegian sick pay scheme. A majority on the committee favours a reduction in sick pay from 100% to 80% of normal pay during the first 16 days of sickness absence, which will be compensated for by tax reductions. The committee also proposes making employers bear more of the costs of long-term sickness absence.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Portugal: Lack of jobs for teachers causes controversy

  In October 2000, the Portuguese Ministry of Education and teachers' trade unions clashed over problems in the annual nationwide application and placement process for teachers. For the 2000-1 school year, many applicants for teaching positions were left jobless and only a small number of job openings were made available.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Portugal: Civil service pay negotiations expected to be difficult

  Negotiations began in Portugal in autumn 2000 over the annual civil service pay increases for 2001. Prospects for agreement do not seem bright - trade unions are demanding pay rises to match inflation plus productivity increases, while the government is calling for wage restraint.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Portugal: Controversy resurfaces over police officers' union rights

  The issue of the recognition of the trade union rights of police officers resurfaced in Portugal in October 2000, with officers' representatives, backed by their European organisation, issuing renewed calls for the granting of such rights. Several legislative proposals on this issue are awaiting discussion in parliament.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Portugal: Professional footballers' union calls for new pension regime

  In late 2000, the Portuguese Professional Footballers' Union is calling for a special state pensions scheme to cover professional sportspeople, as part of the current implementation of the new Basic Social Security Law. The union wants professional sportspeople's pensions to reflect their earnings when playing professionally, rather than the lower incomes that they often receive between ending their sport career and retiring.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Sweden: Report examines pay setting in new service sectors

  Wage formation in most new service sectors - such as information technology and other professionals, or call centres - differs considerably from traditional pay negotiations between the social partners, and this could pose a threat to Sweden's traditional model of pay setting. These are among the findings of a report published by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in summer 2000.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Sweden: State subsidies to call centres cause controversy

  The Swedish government offers subsidies for the establishment of call centres in high unemployment areas. In August 2000, the Salaried Employees' Union (HTF) criticised the government for granting subsidies to call centres where terms of employment and working conditions are said to be unsatisfactory. The Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications has set up an informal group to follow up the issue.

• 28 Oct 2000
  Sweden: Metalworkers make first demands for 2001 bargaining round

  In October 2000, the Swedish Metalworkers' Union, supported by seven other trade unions in the industry sector, became the first union to present its claims for the 2001 collective bargaining round. The metalworkers are seeking a pay increase of 3%, a working time reduction of 15 hours per year and a special effort for low-paid workers. Overall, this would mean an increase in costs of 4% over a year.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Countries: Industrial relations and the ageing workforce: a review of measures to combat age discrimination in employment

  The implications of the ageing workforce in Europe are of increasing concern to policy-makers and industrial relations practitioners at both national and European level. The issue is especially topical in 2000, in the light of the forthcoming adoption of the EU Directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation for all people irrespective of a range of factors, including age. This EIRO comparative study reviews: the general employment situation of older workers in the EU and Norway; government measures, whether statutory or otherwise, to combat age discrimination and promote the employment of older workers; the approach taken by the social partners; and the views of governments and social partner organisations on the age discrimination provisions of the EU Directive.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Countries: Les relations industrielles et le vieillissement de la main-d'?uvre: examen des mesures de lutte contre la discrimination fondée sur l'âge dans l'emploi

  Les implications du vieillissement de la main-d'?uvre en Europe inquiètent de plus en plus les décideurs et les praticiens du domaine des relations industrielles tant au niveau national qu'européen. Cette question est tout particulièrement d'actualité en l'an 2000 à la lumière de l'adoption prochaine de la directive communautaire sur l'égalité de traitement en matière d'emploi et de travail, sans distinction d'une série de caractéristiques, y compris l'âge. La présente étude comparative de l'EIRO couvre les aspects suivants : la situation générale des travailleurs âgés par rapport à l'emploi dans l'UE et la Norvège ; les mesures de lutte contre la discrimination envers les travailleurs âgés et de promotion de l'emploi pour ces travailleurs, qu'elles soient légales ou autres, mises en ?uvre par les gouvernements ; la démarche adoptée par les partenaires sociaux ; et le point de vue des gouvernements et des organisations des partenaires sociaux sur les dispositions de la directive communautaire relatives à la discrimination fondée sur l'âge.

• 28 Oct 2000
  EU Countries: Arbeitsbeziehungen und die Überalterung der Erwerbsbevölkerung: Eine Übersicht über die Maßnahmen zur Bekämpfung der Diskriminierung aus Altersgründen im Beschäftigungsbereich

  Die Auswirkungen der Überalterung der Erwerbsbevölkerung in Europa stellen für die Entscheidungsträger und die Akteure im Bereich der Arbeitsbeziehungen sowohl auf nationaler als auch auf europäischer Ebene zunehmend ein Problem dar. Angesichts der bevorstehenden Verabschiedung der EU-Richtlinie über die Gleichbehandlung in Beschäftigung und Beruf ungeachtet einer Reihe von Faktoren, unter anderem des Alters, ist das Thema im Jahr 2000 besonders aktuell. Diese vergleichende Untersuchung des EIRO gibt einen Überblick über die allgemeine Beschäftigungssituation älterer Arbeitnehmer in der EU und Norwegen, über staatliche Maßnahmen, seien sie gesetzlicher oder anderer Art, zur Bekämpfung der Diskriminierung aus Altersgründen und zur Förderung der Beschäftigung von älteren Arbeitnehmern, über den Ansatz der Sozialpartner und die Ansichten der Regierungen und Organisationen der Sozialpartner zu den Bestimmungen der EU-Richtlinie in Bezug auf die Diskriminierung aus Altersgründen.

• 28 Oct 2000
  United Kingdom: Amendments to EU Charter allay CBI fears

  The Confederation of British Industry has said that it "can live with" the final draft of the EU Charter of fundamental rights published by the drafting Convention on 2 October 2000, having been strongly critical of earlier drafts, particularly as regards their references to strikes and consultation.

• 28 Oct 2000
  United Kingdom: TUC conference overshadowed by petrol price protests

  In September 2000, the annual conference of the UK Trades Union Congress took place. As in 1999, debates at the conference highlighted the uneasy relationship between the unions and the Labour government. However, media attention was largely distracted by the impact of protests over petrol prices.

• 28 Oct 2000
  United Kingdom: Government considers improvements in parental leave rights

  In September 2000, as part of a review of maternity pay and parental leave, the UK government published a discussion paper intended to encourage public debate about how to help working parents balance work and family commitments. Trade unions and other campaigners hope that the review will result in proposals for some element of payment during parental leave.

• 28 Oct 2000
  United Kingdom: New right for workers to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings

  The Employment Relations Act 1999 gives UK workers the statutory right to be accompanied by a trade union official or fellow worker at workplace disciplinary and grievance hearings. This feature outlines the new provisions, which came into force in September 2000, and highlights their potential impact.

• 28 Oct 2000
  United Kingdom: National Skills Task Force issues final report

  In June 2000, the UK National Skills Task Force produced its final report setting out its proposals for a new national skills agenda intended to develop the UK as a high-skill, high-value-added "knowledge economy" in the 21st century.