May 2001
- 28 May 2001
Austria: Chamber of the Economy takes further reform steps<#PDF_LINK>In late April 2001, a special assembly of the Chamber of the Economy, Austria's main employers' organisation, approved a programme of measures to implement an internal reform plan drawn up in 2000. The main aim is to reduce membership dues by 30%.
- 28 May 2001
Austria: Industrial relations in the agricultural sector<#PDF_LINK>The agricultural sector creates specific problems for industrial relations - the small scale of production units, for example, or the high level of seasonal labour. Here we examine how and to what extent these specific problems make industrial relations in agriculture in Austria differ from the national norm, looking at the bargaining and co-determination system, the actors involved and current issues and problems in 2001.
- 28 May 2001
Belgium: Historic agreement on working time cuts in private healthcare blocked<#PDF_LINK>Some 13,000 employees of Belgian not-for-profit private healthcare institutions demonstrated in Brussels on 24 April 2001 to demand the application of a collective agreement that would implement an accord reached on 1 March 2000 between the federal government and the sector's social partners. The March 2000 deal, which was called historic at the time of signature, is now blocked over the section relating to the reduction of working hours for employees aged over 45 years.
- 28 May 2001
Belgium: 2001-2 national metalworking agreement signed<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, trade unions and employers in the Belgian metalworking sector concluded a national agreement, covering 155,000 workers in 6,000 companies. The deal, which implements the 2001-2 intersectoral agreement, includes: a substantial collective wage increase with scope for negotiations at company level; an increase in contributions to the sectoral pensions fund; and the establishment of a women's joint working group.
- 28 May 2001
Germany: Federation of Gay Managers awards diversity management prize to Ford<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, Germany's Federation of Gay Managers awarded its "Max Spohr Prize" to Ford, in recognition of the auto company's good "diversity management" policies and practices. The prize, awarded for the first time in 2001, recognises companies which protect and support minority groups, such as gay and lesbian employees.
- 28 May 2001
Germany: Ver.di and Randstad agreed on pay increases<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, Germany's Unified Service Sector Union (ver.di) and the Randstad temporary employment agency agreed on pay increases for about 21,000 Randstad employees working in various companies. The parties hope that the settlement might set an example for the whole temporary agency work sector.
- 28 May 2001
Germany: Employers and unions debate new rules for immigration<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the German Trade Union Federation (DGB) presented a new programme arguing for the introduction of a federal immigration committee and quotas for certain types of non-EU immigrant workers. This programme comes at a time when the federal government as well as the Confederation of German Industries (BDI) have highlighted the need for future large-scale immigration and are seeking to find ways to attract high-skilled foreign labour to Germany. The debate focuses not just on rules to govern immigration but also seeks to offer foreign workers support for their integration into German society.
- 28 May 2001
Germany: Government presents first report on poverty and wealth<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the government presented the first report on poverty and wealth in Germany. The report's analysis shows that, in nearly all areas, the problem of social exclusion has increased while at the same time justice in distribution has decreased. Families with children and single parents are particularly affected by these developments. The report, along with Germany's first National Action Plan on social inclusion (in response to an EU initiative), states that the government wants to fight poverty primarily through promoting labour market integration and greater qualifications. Trade unions, however, are seeking more concrete redistribution policies.
- 28 May 2001
Denmark: Nordsten employees receive pay increases until plant closure<#PDF_LINK>Under a local agreement reached in spring 2001, employees at P Nordsten A/S, a Danish agricultural machinery manufacturer, will receive a substantial pay increase over the next two years, whereafter the plant will close and production will be transferred to Poland. This local agrement is very unusual, but at the same time an example of another ad hoc solution to company restructuring in Denmark.
- 28 May 2001
Denmark: Denmark has too many trade unions<#PDF_LINK>There are currently 169 trade unions in Denmark, of which one-third have fewer than 1,000 members. This is too many, according to a study published in April 2001, which claims that too much energy is thus expended on rivalry among the unions and internal power struggles, to the detriment of the members and of flexibility at the workplace. The report concludes that enterprises could increase productivity by at least 5% if mergers led to fewer unions, as work tasks could be organised in a more flexible way if demarcation lines were erased.
- 28 May 2001
Spain: Strike in Catalonia and Basque Country against industrial accident rate<#PDF_LINK>On 27 April 2001, Spain's CC.OO and UGT trade union confederations organised a day of mobilisation against industrial accidents and occupational illnesses, including a one-hour general strike in Catalonia and the Basque Country.
- 28 May 2001
Spain: Gender pay discrimination examined<#PDF_LINK>It is estimated that the average pay of women in Spain is around 30% lower than that of men in 2001, though gaps in the existing statistics make research in this area difficult. We examine the statistical problems and outline the competing interpretations of the meaning of gender pay differentials, drawing on recent research.
- 28 May 2001
EU Level: Temporary agency work talks extended<#PDF_LINK>A meeting in April 2001 between the EU Employment and Social Policy Commissioner, Anna Diamantopoulou, and representatives from European-level social partner organisations has resulted in the latters' talks on the issue of temporary working being extended until May. Prospects of an agreement on the issue had earlier seemed to have collapsed.
- 28 May 2001
EU Level: Rail workers stage international day of action in support of rail safety<#PDF_LINK>Rail workers staged an international day of action on 29 March 2001 in support of safety in the rail industry. The action was organised by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and aimed to draw attention to the problem of safety in the sector, as well as supporting a safety memorandum drawn up by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF).
- 28 May 2001
EU Level: New global workers' rights deals<#PDF_LINK>New "global agreements" providing for the respect a range of workers' rights in their worldwide operations have recently been concluded in three major European multinationals – Carrefour (France, commerce), Skanska (Sweden, construction) and Telefónica (Spain, telecommunications). These are the latest additions to a growing list of similar accords negotiated between multinationals and international trade union organisations.
- 28 May 2001
EU Level: Teleworking agreement signed in commerce<#PDF_LINK>A new European agreement on guidelines for teleworking in commerce was signed on 26 April 2001 by EuroCommerce, representing the sector's employers, and UNI-Europa Commerce, for trade unions. The new agreement contains detailed guidelines regulating areas such as the introduction of telework, employment conditions, confidentiality, equipment and trade union rights.
- 28 May 2001
Finland: Social partners take stand on EU enlargement<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, all Finland's main social partners submitted to the Prime Minister a statement concerning enlargement of the EU. They call for the transition period for the introduction of free movement of labour within the enlarged EU to be flexible. The statement also stresses that Finnish terms of employment must be applied to employees from candidate countries who work in Finland, and that free movementr of labour should not mean importing cheap foreign labour.
- 28 May 2001
Finland: Shipping subsidies under debate as job losses loom<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, the Finnish government was considering a new subsidy for the country's passenger shipping, in the form of the abolition of tax and social security contributions on seafarers' wages. The government is under pressure to introduce this measure - which is demanded by the sector's social partners - because subsidies are already in use in many EU countries following a 1997 European Commission decision to allow them. If the government does not grant the subsidy, the shipowners will "outflag" their vessels to other countries' registers and then be able to hire cheaper labour, with the trade unions powerless in the face of this threat.
- 28 May 2001
France: New board and statute for UNEDIC unemployment insurance fund<#PDF_LINK>Following the conclusion in late 2000 of an agreement reforming France's jointly-managed UNEDIC unemployment insurance scheme, UNEDIC's statute and organisational structure were renegotiated and renewed in March 2001. The CGT and CGT-FO trade union confederations, which did not sign the agreement, will nevertheless sit on the administrative board, while Michel Jalmain of the CFDT union was elected chair of the board in April.
- 28 May 2001
France: Midwives take lengthy strike action<#PDF_LINK>On 20 March 2001, French midwives began industrial action in a dispute over pay, status, employment levels and working conditions. The dispute was still in progress in early May, though the momentum seemed to have waned, and the eventual outcome remained uncertain.
- 28 May 2001
France: Psychological/moral harassment at work to be included in Labour Code<#PDF_LINK>"Moral" or "psychological" harassment at work - essentially bullying - is currently high on the French political agenda. In January 2001, while debating a "social modernisation" bill, parliament proposed including the concept in the Labour Code. In April 2001, the Economic and Social Council called for a more all-encompassing definition of such harassment and for its recognition as an occupational hazard, with resulting disorders to be considered industrial illnesses. The Council is also pushing for this type of harassment to be included in the civil service regulations and the Criminal Code.
- 28 May 2001
France: Urban public transport workers strike again over retirement at 55<#PDF_LINK>On 23 April 2001, urban public transport workers took strike action in many French cities, demanding a right to retire at the age of 55. The strike following previous industrial action in March and earlier in April. The latest strike took place at the same time as the sector's trade unions and employers' association were holding a joint meeting, which saw a breakdown in the negotiation process.
- 28 May 2001
France: Negotiations fail over civil service pay rises<#PDF_LINK>In late April 2001, the French government unilaterally determined by decree the pay rises to be awarded to civil servants in 2001 and 2002, thus ending talks with the civil service trade unions which began in November 2000. The unions have condemned the government for a lack of willingness to engage in dialogue with them.
- 28 May 2001
France: Social partners sceptical over government Pension Reserve Fund bill<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the French government published a bill providing an independent legal status for the Pension Reserve Fund (FRR) - which provides support for the state pensions system through financial investments - and ushering in investment by the fund in stocks and shares. This bill has received far from unanimous support from the social partners.
- 28 May 2001
France: New economic regulations law adopted<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, the French parliament adopted a law on "new economic regulations", aimed at adding an "ethical" aspect to financial practices, clarifying competition rules, improving social dialogue and enforcing consumer rights. On the industrial relations front, the new legislation strengthens to some extent the powers of works councils in takeovers, mergers and proposed share exchanges.
- 28 May 2001
France: Debate on reform of sickness insurance<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, several trade unions and doctors' organisations presented a proposal for the reform of France's jointly-run sickness insurance scheme, which runs contrary to the priorities followed by both the CNAMTS sickness insurance fund and successive governments since 1995. This proposal has restarted the arguments over the principles and priorities of the French social security system.
- 28 May 2001
France: Swissair Group's French subsidiaries face restructuring and redundancies<#PDF_LINK>Despite improved economic conditions in the airline industry and a significant increase in passenger traffic, it became clear in April 2001 that the French subsidiaries of the Swissair group (AOM, Air Liberté and Air Littoral) are facing difficulties which could potentially lead to their demise, with the loss of many jobs. An injection of FRF 500 million should give the companies until the end of June 2001 to consider the various proposals for takeover or continued operation, as well as potential redeployment of employees.
- 28 May 2001
Greece: 24-hour general strike over social security reform<#PDF_LINK>On 26 April 2001, Greece's main trade union confederations, GSEE and the public sector ADEDY, called a 24-hour nationwide general strike in protest at the government's proposals for social security reform. The strike received unprecedented levels of support, and the government has announced a freeze of its plans pending dialogue with the unions.
- 28 May 2001
Greece: Employers debate challenge of employment<#PDF_LINK>In February 2001, Greece's SEV employers' federation held a seminar on "the challenge of employment". With Greek unemployment - in contrast to most other EU Member States - still rising, the employers examined the current situation and prospects and drew up a set of proposals on issues such as: stimulating economic growth to create new jobs; modernising the labour market; improving the quality and quantity of labour; and ensuring social cohesion and reintegration for unemployed people.
- 28 May 2001
Ireland: Task Force on Workplace Bullying issues report<#PDF_LINK>A Task Force on the Prevention of Workplace Bullying established by the Irish government issued a report in April 2001, containing a number of recommendations aimed at reducing bullying at the workplace. If put into practice on a sufficient scale, these recommendations should prove to be important in tackling the problem of bullying.
- 28 May 2001
Ireland: 21% pay for change deal at ESB<#PDF_LINK>Under a deal reached in April 2001, over 7,500 workers at Ireland's state-owned electricity utility, ESB, are to receive staged pay increases worth up to 21% on top of the basic rises allowed under the current three-year national agreement, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
- 28 May 2001
Ireland: Aer Lingus deal brokered by Labour Court<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, a successful intervention by the Irish Labour Court produced a set of acceptable proposals which averted further industrial action by members of the SIPTU trade union at the state-owned airline, Aer Lingus. The SIPTU members had sought to catch up with improved pay and conditions previously awarded to cabin crew organised in the IMPACT union.
- 28 May 2001
Italy: Cgil holds conference of officials and representatives<#PDF_LINK>Italy's Cgil trade union confederation held a conference of its officials and representatives in Rome in April 2001. The conference expressed Cgil's total disagreement with the Confindustria employers' confederation's recent proposal for a "new social pact". Cgil's relations with the other two main union confederations remain strained, and the differences between them were underlined by the interventions at the conference of the general secretaries of Cisl and Uil.
- 28 May 2001
Italy: Cgil and some employers' associations do not sign fixed-term work agreement<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, Italy's Cisl and Uil trade union confederations (together with the independent unions, Ugl and Cisal) and 12 employers' associations, including Confindustria, each submitted to the government a "joint statement" they had reached on the transposition of the 1999 EU Directive on fixed-term work. The agreement was reached after lengthy negotiations, during which the Cgil union confederation pulled out of the talks. Five employers' organisations also decided not to sign the agreement, which lifts a number of restrictions on the use of fixed-term employment contracts. The Directive should be transposed by July 2001, by means of a government bill and approval by parliament.
- 28 May 2001
Italy: Social partners highlight competitiveness and development issues<#PDF_LINK>According to a survey published in March 2001 by the Confindustria employers' confederation, the innovative capacity of small firms in Italy is being hampered by factors such as the rigidity of the labour market, the lack of skilled labour, and a high tax burden. Meanwhile, at a May 2001 conference on the South of Italy, Cgil declared that priority should be given to the quality of economic development and criticised employers' policies in this area.
- 28 May 2001
Luxembourg: First collective agreement signed on moral/psychological harassment<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, Luxembourg's first collective agreement aimed at combating moral/psychological harassment (essentially bullying) was signed at the Bram retail company.
- 28 May 2001
Netherlands: Committee recommends occupational disability insurance reform<#PDF_LINK>In June 2000, the Dutch government set up a committee of inquiry to make recommendations on the future of occupational disability insurance (WAO). The main lines of the committee's unanimous proposals were made public in April 2001. The current provisions should apply only to employees who are permanently and fully unable to work as a result of disability, whereas those who will eventually be able to return to work should retain their employment contract with their employer. Employers and employees should attempt to reinstate the latter category of employee, in a different job if necessary. The trade unions have announced plans to seek compensation in collective agreements for the loss of income which would be incurred by partially disabled employees as a result of the proposal, but employer's associations have already indicated that they will oppose such provisions.
- 28 May 2001
Norway: Statoil to be listed on stock exchange in June 2001<#PDF_LINK>On 26 April 2001, the Norwegian parliament approved the proposed partial privatisation of the state-owned oil company, Statoil, and of the state's direct financial interest in petroleum operations. The intention is to have Statoil listed on the Oslo and New York stock exchanges in June 2001. The trade unions are divided on the privatisation issue.
- 28 May 2001
Norway: LO holds four-yearly national congress<#PDF_LINK>The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) held its four-yearly national congress in May 2001. Gerd-Liv Valla was elected as the new president - the first woman to hold the post. Delegates discussed issues such as wage and bargaining policy, working life legislation, basic agreements, working time cuts, pensions and relations with political parties, and it was decided to instigate a process of examining LO's organisational structure.
- 28 May 2001
Portugal: Industrial action by teachers, nurses and doctors<#PDF_LINK>April 2001 saw industrial unrest in a number of areas of the Portuguese public sector, with teachers, nurses and doctors taking or threatening strikes over a variety of demands and government reform proposals in areas such as careers, pay and early retirement.
- 28 May 2001
Portugal: Government launches new employment programme<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the Portuguese government published a new programme aimed at coordinating measures for stimulating job offers and at facilitating labour market entry for disadvantaged groups. The programme features financial support for the recruitment of young, old and long-term unemployed people and people with disabilities, with extra funding for projects promoting equal opportunities. A number of measures aim to ensure the sustainability of job creation under the programme.
- 28 May 2001
Portugal: Shiftwork bill to be discussed<#PDF_LINK>In late May 2001, draft legislation on shiftwork was due to be discussed in the Portuguese parliament. The bill seeks to regulate this type of work more fully, with special provisions on working time, holidays, health and safety and early retirement.
- 28 May 2001
Sweden: 2001 bargaining rounds nears completion<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, the last major agreement was signed in Sweden's 2001 sectoral bargaining round. The new agreements generally provide for pay increases of around 8.5% over three years, often including working time cuts worth 1.5%. Bargaining generally proceeded relatively smoothly, with little industrial action.
- 28 May 2001
Sweden: The National Mediation Office seeks to improve wage-formation process<#PDF_LINK>In May 2001, Sweden's new National Mediation Office had been in existence for nearly a year, and here we review its background, role and early experience. According to its director-general, Anders Lindström, achieving a well-functioning and sustainable process of wage formation, rather than achieving industrial peace at any price, is the National Mediation Office's most important goal.
- 28 May 2001
Sweden: Women's incomes still only 70% of men's<#PDF_LINK>Data released by Sweden Statistics in April 2001 show that in 1999, female workers in Sweden had an average annual income only 70% of that of male workers.
- 28 May 2001
Sweden: Budget proposals include improved unemployment, sickness and injury insurance<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the Swedish government submitted its proposed national budget. The provisions include an overhaul of the occupational injury insurance scheme to make it more generous, and increased unemployment and sickness insurance benefits.
- 28 May 2001
Sweden: Merger creates Confederation of Swedish Enterprise<#PDF_LINK>In late March 2001, two long-standing Swedish employers' and industrial organisations - the Swedish Employers' Confederation and the Federation of Swedish Industries - ceased to exist as they merged to create the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise. The new central business organisation represents some 46,000 firms in 52 member associations.
- 28 May 2001
United Kingdom: Unions hail government climb-down on parental leave<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the UK government announced that it would be dropping the restriction of statutory parental leave to parents of children born after the entitlement was first introduced in December 1999. All working parents with children under five will be shortly be entitled to parental leave. The Trades Union Congress, which had mounted a legal challenge against the restricted coverage of statutory parental leave rights, welcomed the government's move.
- 28 May 2001
United Kingdom: More public holidays in prospect?<#PDF_LINK>In April 2001, the publication by the Labour-affiliated Fabian Society of a paper calling for more public holidays in the UK sparked press speculation that a re-elected Labour government would introduce at least one extra "bank holiday" during the next parliament.
- 28 May 2001
United Kingdom: Teaching unions adopt united stance on 35-hour week<#PDF_LINK>At their Easter 2001 conferences, the UK's three main teaching trade unions each voted in favour of the same resolution calling for a 35-hour working week. The unions are threatening to take industrial action in the autumn if the government refuses to meet their demands.
- 28 May 2001
United Kingdom: Parties' industrial relations policies outlined<#PDF_LINK>Elections to the UK parliament will take place on 7 June 2001. We highlight the main political parties' manifesto commitments in the area of industrial relations.
- 28 May 2001
United Kingdom: Research highlights limited impact of Working Time Regulations<#PDF_LINK>Research published in April 2001 suggests that the Working Time Regulations 1998 have had a limited effect, if any, on most UK organisations. Long hours continue to be worked consistently by a significant minority of employees, facilitated by voluntary exemptions from the legislation. The Regulations are seemingly a matter of little concern for most employers and their workers. However, there is also evidence of some employers flouting the law and exploiting ignorance about the Regulations to deprive vulnerable workers of their rights.