April 2002
- 30 Apr 2002
Portugal: Doctors take industrial action<#PDF_LINK>A long-running wave of industrial action by Portuguese doctors intensified in March 2002, mainly over issues such as staffing and overtime. The conflict has run parallel to a political debate over the effectiveness of the national health system, which was an important issue in March's general election.
- 30 Apr 2002
Portugal: New law on employment and training of young people<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, new rules were introduced in Portugal on the employment of young people who have not completed compulsory schooling or do not possess any vocational qualifications, providing new flexibility in recruitment for companies but obliging them to provide training. The new legislation comes within the context of an intersectoral agreement on employment and training signed by the government and social partners in 2001.
- 30 Apr 2002
France: The social partners and the presidential election<#PDF_LINK>Prior to the first round of voting in France's presidential elections on 21 April 2002, trade unions and employers' associations entered the debate. This feature reviews the social partners' various positions and demands, as well as some of the candidates' proposals in the areas of social affairs and industrial relations.
- 30 Apr 2002
Spain: Unions highlight unstable employment in Catalonia<#PDF_LINK>In 2001-2, trade unions in the Catalonia region of Spain have taken a number of initiatives aimed at examining and criticising the level of unstable employment. CC.OO's Catalan organisation has drawn up ablacklistof the 200 most unstable companies in the region, using abarometer of employment qualityto highlight alleged abuses of temporary employment, subcontracting etc. It claims that this exercise has led to intervention by the Labour Inspectorate and the conclusion of new collective agreements. UGT's Catalan organisation has conducted a study on unstable employment.
- 30 Apr 2002
Netherlands: Pay moderation key issue in difficult bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>The spring 2002 collective bargaining round in the Netherlands has proved difficult, with industrial action in sectors such as construction and public transport. Despite calls for pay moderation, agreed wage increases were generally just under 4% (above predicted inflation) until a markedly lower rise was agreed, following a major strike, at Philips in April. The Philips deal may set the pattern for subsequent bargaining in export-oriented manufacturing, but there are still fears of a wage-price spiral.
- 29 Apr 2002
Norway: Trade unions find new ways to attract members<#PDF_LINK>In the face of declining membership and financial difficulties there is an increasing awareness among Norwegian trade unions of the need to modernise their organisations in order to adapt and improve services to their members, as well as to recruit new members. Two trade union initiatives launched in 2002 seek to use new technologies to recruit and communicate with new members, or to contact non-unionised employees. Both are aimed at younger employees working in information and communications technologies.
- 29 Apr 2002
Finland: Finland 'leads EU' on older workers policy<#PDF_LINK>Finland's national programme for older workers - in which the social partners are central players - ended in March 2002 with a seminar to discuss its results. Research indicates that the labour market position of people aged over 45 has been improved over the five years of the programme: their employment rate has increased and the average retirement age has been raised by a few years. Finland is considered as providing an example to the rest of the EU in terms of policies to deal with the ageing workforce.
- 29 Apr 2002
France: Report on poverty and social exclusion<#PDF_LINK>Four years of economic growth and declining unemployment have only slightly reduced poverty and social exclusion in France. This is the conclusion of an official report, issued in March 2002, that also highlights the fact that these phenomena have affected specific social groups and areas of the country more than others.
- 29 Apr 2002
France: Recent developments in occupational illnesses and work-related accidents<#PDF_LINK>Debate about health and safety at work in France has been intensified over 2001-2 by the publication of several highly critical reports on the prevention of work-related accidents and occupational illnesses, various legislative developments and a landmark court ruling on employers' responsibility for asbestos protection. These developments have combined to mount a challenge to the existing system of prevention and raised the prospect of a reform of the entire raft of compensatory measures for work-related accidents and occupational illnesses.
- 29 Apr 2002
EU Level: Council discusses European Cooperative Society and protection against asbestos<#PDF_LINK>The EU Employment and Social Policy Council met on 7 March 2002 to debate a number of topics. The debates were dominated by preparations for the Barcelona European Council on 15-16 March and discussions on the progress of the proposed Directive on worker involvement in a European Cooperative Society and of the proposal to update an existing Directive on protection from the risks related to exposure to asbestos.
- 26 Apr 2002
Austria: Changing industrial relations in local public sector<#PDF_LINK>In Austria, almost all employees in the public sector are excluded from the right to conclude collective agreements. However, until recently, informal wage negotiations between the authorities and the relevant trade unions have taken place in a highly centralised manner. Since the new coalition government of the conservative ÖVP and populist FPÖ broke with this practice in 2000, an evolving new practice of separate wage setting for the various levels of the public sector has created organisational problems within the local public sector (cities and municipalities). We review the situation in 2002.
- 26 Apr 2002
Sweden: Government proposes individual learning accounts system<#PDF_LINK>In April 2002, the Sweden's minority Social Democrat government presented a bill introducing a new system of individual learning and skill development accounts for employees, following an earlier agreement on the issue with the Left Party and Green Party. The new system, which should come into operation in 2003, will provide tax incentives for learning and study activities, plus encouragement for employers to contribute to their employees' learning accounts.
- 26 Apr 2002
Finland: Workers receive diminishing share of national income<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, Finland's Government Institute for Economic Research published a research study on the distribution of national income between labour and capital, commissioned by the tripartite incomes policy information commission. According to the findings, the share of wages in the national income has decreased drastically since the early 1990s. In response, the SAK trade union confederation has warned of a new battle over the distribution of income.
- 26 Apr 2002
Germany: 2002 works council elections start<#PDF_LINK>Over March-May 2002, works council elections are taking place in German companies. These are the first elections since the 2001 reform of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), which governs the establishment and operation of works councils. The aims of the reformed BetrVG include increasing the number of works councils. The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) launched a campaign in February 2002 to support the works council elections, and one objective is to motivate employees to elect works councils in companies which do not have them at present.
- 26 Apr 2002
Norway: Private sector bargaining produces significant wage increases<#PDF_LINK>April 2002 saw the conclusion of a new collective agreement in the trend-setting Norwegian engineering industry, which was followed by settlements in a number of other private sector bargaining units. There was, however, a strike in the hotel and restaurant sector and industrial action may also occur in transport if no agreement is reached. The wage settlements have been rather higher than expected, though there has been little progress on trade union demands for the introduction of occupational pensions.
- 26 Apr 2002
EU Level: High-level group issues report on future of industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission's high-level group on industrial relations and change issued its report in March 2002. The report highlights the role of the social partners and the social dialogue at all levels in developing the agenda for industrial relations over the coming years.
- 26 Apr 2002
EU Level: Working time Directive extended to mobile workers in road transport<#PDF_LINK>A new EU Directive on the organisation of working time for mobile workers in road transport came into force on 23 March 2002. The text regulates a range of areas, including maximum weekly working time, rest breaks and limits on night work. It excludes self-employed drivers for four years.
- 26 Apr 2002
EU Level: Social partners agree training framework<#PDF_LINK>A new joint text on lifelong learning was signed in February 2002 by the EU-level social partners. Aimed at supporting the lifelong development of competencies, the text highlights four priority areas for action: identification and anticipation of competencies and qualifications needs; recognition and validation of competencies and qualifications; information, support and guidance; and resources.
- 26 Apr 2002
Greece: National General Collective Agreement signed for 2002-3<#PDF_LINK>After two months of bargaining, Greece's new National General Collective Agreement for the private sector was signed in April 2002. The agreement will be in force for the two-year period, 2002-3. It provides for pay increases of 5.4% in 2002 and 3.9% in 2003, along with a variety of new provisions on employment conditions and social issues. The topic of working time reduction has been referred to a special committee.
- 24 Apr 2002
Finland: Unions support Sonera and Telia merger plans<#PDF_LINK>In late March 2002, two telecommunications companies, the Finnish Sonera and Swedish Telia, announced their intention to merge. The merger would create the largest telecommunications operator in the Nordic countries and a significant operator on the European scale. According to the companies, the merger will not result in job losses at this stage. Trade unions state that they are satisfied with the plan and believe that jobs will be secure.
- 24 Apr 2002
Denmark: Three-year agreement concluded in central government sector<#PDF_LINK>A new three-year collective agreement for Denmark's central government sector came into force in April 2002, following approval by trade union members in ballots. On the basis of current economic indicators, the new agreement will result in an increase in real wages over the three-year period, while a pilot project for a new locally-based pay system will become a permanent system. Annual leave has been increased to six weeks and training measures strengthened. There had been fears that the recently adopted Finance Act, which will lead to cutbacks and job losses in many state institutions, would induce many employees to reject the new deal, but the majority in favour was comfortable. The outcome of ballots over a new agreement in the county/municipal sector was due at the end of April.
- 24 Apr 2002
Netherlands: Company law changes have implications for employee representatives<#PDF_LINK>A number of legislative proposals issued in 2001 and 2002 aim to strengthen the position of the general meeting of shareholders in Dutch companies in relation to company management and, in some cases, even the supervisory board. At the same time, the powers of employee representatives will remain largely unchanged. These changes may bring about a shift in the balance of power within large companies in favour of shareholders.
- 23 Apr 2002
Austria: Government plans to limit public employees' protection against dismissal<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, Austria's Vice Chancellor, Susanne Riess-Passer of the populist Freedom Party (FPÖ), announced her intention to reduce the current absolute protection against dismissal for civil servants to the minimum, despite fierce protests from the Civil Service Trade Union. While both parties in the coalition government, the FPÖ and the conservative People's Party (ÖVP), agree in principle on the necessity to reform the relevant public service regulations, they disagree sharply over which public employees should enjoy special protection against dismissal.
- 23 Apr 2002
Germany: Holzmann construction company files for bankruptcy protection<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, Philipp Holzmann, Germany's second-largest construction company, filed for bankruptcy protection in court. While at the time of a previous crisis in 1999, many of Holzmann's creditor banks had decided to participate in a rehabilitation plan, the company has now been made the subject of insolvency proceedings. Taking advantage of Germany's recently revised insolvency provisions, many of Holzmann's workers - who agreed in 1999 to work unpaid overtime until such time as the company could afford to compensate them - still have hopes of saving their jobs.
- 23 Apr 2002
EU Level: Commission proposes Directive on temporary agency workers<#PDF_LINK>A proposal for a new Directive regulating the working conditions of temporary agency workers was issued by the European Commission in March 2002. This followed the breakdown of social partner negotiations on this topic during 2001. The proposal aims to ensure equal treatment between temporary agency workers and comparable workers in the user company on a range of basic working conditions, including pay, working time, breaks and holidays.
- 23 Apr 2002
Belgium: Women in trade unions<#PDF_LINK>In 2002, women remain under-represented in leadership positions in Belgian trade unions, and among members of employee representative bodies. The reasons most frequently advanced for this state of affairs are family responsibilities and social constraints. Female trade unionists are increasingly demanding better representation, particularly in decision-making roles, and the main unions are now seeking to change their attitudes and increase awareness among women workers..
- 22 Apr 2002
United Kingdom: Union strategies for tackling race inequality<#PDF_LINK>To coincide with the annual Trades Union Congress black workers' conference, held in April 2002, this feature reviews a range of positive action initiatives taken by UK unions over the last few years to combat race inequalities in employment and within their own organisations.
- 22 Apr 2002
Ireland: Report finds 'glass ceiling' obstructs women in management<#PDF_LINK>A report by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC), published in March 2002, concludes that the presence of aglass ceilingmeans that there is a low level of female representation in senior management positions in Ireland. Thisglass ceiling, it is argued, is created by a number of structural and attitudinal barriers.
- 22 Apr 2002
EU Level: Final approval given to consultation Directive<#PDF_LINK>The controversial EU employee consultation Directive was formally adopted by the European Parliament and Council during February 2002. Following publication of the Directive in the EU Official Journal, Member States have until March 2005 to comply with its requirements.
- 19 Apr 2002
Spain: 2001 Annual Review for Spain<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2001's main developments in industrial relations in Spain
- 19 Apr 2002
Netherlands: 2001 Annual Review for the Netherlands<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2001's main developments in industrial relations in the Netherlands.
- 19 Apr 2002
Belgium: 2001 Annual Review for Belgium<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2001's main developments in industrial relations in Belgium.
- 18 Apr 2002
EU Countries: Non-permanent employment, quality of work and industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>Non-permanent work (notably fixed-term contracts, temporary agency work and casual or seasonal work) forms an increasingly substantial proportion of employment across much of western Europe. This EIRO comparative study examines the extent and development of this form of employment and its regulation, focusing on collective bargaining and the implementation of the 1999 EU Directive on fixed-term work. It goes on to look at the possible effects of non-permanent employment on the quality of working life in terms of working conditions (eg pay and conditions, career opportunities, health and safety, employee participation) and the employees' overall labour market position and prospects (eg periods of employment/unemployment, social security, income). The study also outlines the views of the social partners on this issue.
- 18 Apr 2002
Ireland: Employers lay down markers ahead of any new deal<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) strongly criticised trade union behaviour during the term of Ireland's current national agreement, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), an indication that the negotiation of a new deal between the social partners will be more difficult when the PPF expires at the end of 2002.
- 18 Apr 2002
Ireland: Radical change tops agenda of new partnership body<#PDF_LINK>March 2002 saw the formal launch of Ireland's National Centre for Partnership and Performance, a new body which seeks to support and facilitate organisational change based on partnership.
- 15 Apr 2002
Finland: Controversy over Finnair hiring temporary staff from Asian countries<#PDF_LINK>The Finnair airline, mainly owned by the Finnish state, decided in February 2002 to start using temporary agency workers from Asian countries on its Far East flights. The SLSY cabin crew trade union finds the work permits granted to these workers questionable and suspects that the use of agency workers will take jobs from Finnair's permanent staff.
- 15 Apr 2002
Luxembourg: OGB-L calls for round table on merchant shipping register<#PDF_LINK>In spring 2002, Luxembourg's OGB-L trade union confederation called for a round table meeting on the country's merchant shipping register and flag, with a view to establishing social and other standards designed to ensure that it no longer acts as aflag of convenience.
- 15 Apr 2002
Sweden: Commissioner to examine women's participation in leading business positions<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, the Swedish government appointed a special commissioner to examine women's participation at management and board levels in private sector companies.
- 15 Apr 2002
Netherlands: SER opinion on WAO disability benefit conditionally supported by social partners<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, the Netherlands' tripartite Social and Economic Council (SER) issued its opinion on the reform of the Occupational Disability Insurance Act (WAO), which will be used by the government as the basis for legislative proposals. Although employers and trade unions are generally in agreement, they have some reservations.
- 15 Apr 2002
Germany: DGB legal agency wins EUR 725 million for members in 2001<#PDF_LINK>In 2001, the legal protection agency provided by Germany's DGB trade union confederation won a total of EUR 725 million in the courts for union members, according to figures published in April 2002. About EUR 375 million was won in labour court proceedings and about EUR 350 million in social security court proceedings.
- 12 Apr 2002
France: Dispute over working time in road haulage<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, the French government proposed a draft decree on working time in the road haulage sector. A number of trade unions organised protest actions against the proposals to reform the regulation of lorry drivers' hours.
- 12 Apr 2002
Spain: UGT congress calls for working time cuts and employment stability<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, Spain's UGT trade union confederation held its 38th confederal congress. Cándido Méndez was re-elected as general secretary as part of an expanded executive committee, and delegates approved various new demands in areas such as working time reduction, employment stability and social security.
- 12 Apr 2002
Spain: Unemployment continues to rise<#PDF_LINK>The slowdown in economic growth in Spain has affected job creation, and there has been a growth in unemployment over 2001 and early 2002. However, new statistical definitions used in calculating the official unemployment figures may disguise the real situation and suggest a more positive development.
- 12 Apr 2002
Italy: Cgil demonstrates against terrorism and government policy<#PDF_LINK>On 23 March 2002, Italy's Cgil trade union confederation organised a major demonstration in Rome against the centre-right government's economic policy and, following the murder of Marco Biagi, against terrorism. The event was claimed to be Italy's largest demonstration since the Second World War.
- 12 Apr 2002
Italy: Cgil, Cisl and Uil call general strike<#PDF_LINK>The three main Italian trade union confederations, Cgil, Cisl and Uil, called an eight-hour general strike for 16 April 2002 in protest at the government's proposed labour reforms. This is the first such action to be called for 20 years and marks a crisis point in Italian industrial relations.
- 12 Apr 2002
France: IBM staff assessment system questioned<#PDF_LINK>In early 2002, trade unions and the Labour Inspectorate were alerted about alleged abuses of the staff assessment system at IBM France. The main allegation - denied by the company - is that a quota has been set for the proportion of employees who will fail assessments, and that such employees then risk dismissal.
- 12 Apr 2002
Greece: Survey on equal opportunities among journalists<#PDF_LINK>Female journalists in Greece face low rates of participation in the labour market, low pay, insecurity about the future, obstacles to professional development, fear of dismissal for gender-related reasons and an increase in incidents of sexual harassment. These are among the findings of a survey of journalists carried out in February 2002, focusing on equal opportunity issues in the profession.
- 12 Apr 2002
Denmark: Union representatives in finance 'have only limited influence'<#PDF_LINK>Workplace trade union representatives in the Danish banking and finance sector are generally satisfied with their task and tend to act as local problem-solvers. However, they have little or no influence on important issues such as the working environment and pay. These are among the findings of a study published in April 2002 by the Financial Services Union.
- 10 Apr 2002
Spain: 'Social Eurobarometer' examines pay levels<#PDF_LINK>Spain, Greece and Portugal have the EU's lowest pay levels, according to comparative information produced in early 2002 by aSocial Eurobarometerset up by the Catalan regional organisation of Spain's CC.OO trade union confederation.
- 10 Apr 2002
Belgium: Code of conduct agreed for industrial disputes<#PDF_LINK>On 28 March 2002, under the aegis of the Minister of Employment and Labour, the Belgian social partners concluded a draft agreement dealing with the resolution of industrial disputes, the simplification of employment promotion schemes, and the harmonisation of the status of blue- and white-collar workers. The social partners undertake to prioritise social dialogue in the event of any strike action. The deal has removed a serious obstacle to negotiations over a new intersectoral agreement for 2003-4.
- 10 Apr 2002
France: Pay and status dispute at FNAC<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, an agreement between management and trade unions ended a month-long dispute about pay and staff status at the FNAC music and book store on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. The deal made it possible for wage bargaining to be resumed for FNAC's other outlets.
- 10 Apr 2002
Norway: Gender Equality Act to be strengthened<#PDF_LINK>A number of amendments to the Gender Equality Act were due to be adopted by the Norwegian parliament in April 2002. The changes mainly relate to equality in working life, covering matters such as an obligation on companies to report on equal opportunities, equal pay for work of equal value and banning sexual harassment.
- 10 Apr 2002
Denmark: Government withdraws proposal to set up state unemployment insurance fund<#PDF_LINK>In spring 2002, due to lack of political support, Denmark's new Liberal/Conservative government withdrew its proposal to establish a state unemployment insurance fund as an alternative to the existing trade union-run funds. However, the government does have political support for promoting the establishment of more cross-sector unemployment insurance funds.
- 09 Apr 2002
Austria: Restructuring of postal services opposed<#PDF_LINK>In February 2002, the management of the Austrian postal service announced plans to split the company into five distinct units. Trade unions claim that the restructuring plans will destroy more than 11,000 jobs in the long run and increase costs, and have threatened strike action.
- 09 Apr 2002
United Kingdom: Peugeot recruits temporary staff in innovative holiday cover scheme<#PDF_LINK>In late February 2002, the car manufacturer Peugeot announced the end of the traditional summer shutdown at its Ryton plant near Coventry in the UK and the creation of up to 700 temporary jobs to enable existing staff to take flexible holidays.
- 09 Apr 2002
Germany: Overview of union demands for 2002 bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>In the first three months of 2002, most German trade unions set out their demands for the year's collective bargaining round. The unions are seeking total cost increases of between 4% and 6.5%, mainly in the form of pay rises but also involving other issues such as safeguarding employment, working time reductions, further training, adjustment of east German pay levels and modernisation of pay framework agreements.
- 09 Apr 2002
EU Level: Day of action in rail sector<#PDF_LINK>On 26 March 2002, trade unions representing rail workers organised an international day of action in support of safety and social standards in the sector. In Europe, the action focused on the forthcoming liberalisation of international rail freight transport within the EU.
- 09 Apr 2002
EU Level: Social partners react to Commission consultation on restructuring<#PDF_LINK>The European-level social partners have issued their first reactions to the European Commission's January 2002 consultation on industrial restructuring. UNICE sees no need for further regulation of this issue at Community level, although it would be willing to enter into exchanges of experience, while ETUC has invited UNICE and CEEP to enter into substantive discussions.
- 09 Apr 2002
EU Level: Commission launches new health and safety strategy<#PDF_LINK>The European Commission launched a new four-year health and safety strategy in March 2002, concentrating on matters such as bullying and violence at work and stress-related conditions. It also aims to establish and consolidate a culture of risk prevention and build on existing achievements.
- 09 Apr 2002
EU Level: European Commission and ILO cooperate on social issues<#PDF_LINK>The ILO and the European Commission held a high-level meeting in February 2002 to discuss cooperation on a range of social issues. They will cooperate in areas such as the social aspects of globalisation, the alleviation of poverty, employment policy, health and safety, social protection and social dialogue.
- 09 Apr 2002
Greece: Bargaining deadlocked in banking<#PDF_LINK>In late March 2002, after a month of difficult and confrontational bargaining, talks over a new collective agreement for the Greek banking sector reached an impasse, and trade unions started to plan industrial action.
- 09 Apr 2002
Finland: Chemicals and textiles unions to merge<#PDF_LINK>In March 2002, the Chemical Workers' Union and the Textile and Garment Workers' Union - two blue-collar trade unions affiliated to the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) - signed a letter of intent to merge. The new union, which will be SAK's third-largest affiliate, should begin operations in June 2004.
- 04 Apr 2002
Germany: Federal Employment Service to be reformed<#PDF_LINK>In February 2002, Germany's Federal Employment Service (BfA) announced that an investigation had revealed that 70% of job placements claimed by employment offices had been incorrectly recorded. The employment offices had achieved a considerably smaller number of placements than stated in the official statistics. Because of this controversy, demands for a reform of the BfA increased. Subsequently, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Walter Riester, the Minister of Labour, presented a two-stage plan for a sweeping reform of the BfA, which received a mixed reception from the social partners.
- 04 Apr 2002
EU Countries: Entwicklungen im Bereich der Arbeitszeit und die Arbeitsqualität<#PDF_LINK>In den letzten Jahren lag das Augenmerk sowohl auf der Ebene der Europäischen Union als auch auf nationaler Ebene auf dem Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitszeit undArbeitsqualitä. Dieses - oft zwar nur allgemein ausgeführte - Konzept wird nun mit Entwicklungen wie Teilzeitarbeit, Zeitkonten, Familienurlaub und Sabbaticals, Gleitzeit, Telearbeit und flexible Ruhestandsregelungen in Verbindung gebracht. Die vorliegende komparative Studie befasst sich mit der auf gemeinschaftlicher und nationaler Ebene zu diesem Thema geführten Debatte und stellt dabei das breite Spektrum staatlicher Initiativen und die Positionen der Sozialpartner vor; sie untersucht den Umfang und die Inhalte der Tarifverhandlungen zu diesem Thema und enthält Daten zur Inanspruchnahme einer Reihe von wesentlichen Arbeitszeitmodellen. Die Studie kommt zu dem Schluss, dass es, was die Entwicklungen im Bereich der Arbeitszeit und die Arbeitsqualität anbelangt, anscheinend eine erhebliche Diskrepanz zwischen Theorie und Wirklichkeit gibt. Zwar hat sich dieses Thema inzwischen einen vorderen Platz auf der Agenda der politischen Entscheidungsträger erobern können, doch scheinen die Tarifverhandlungen mit dem Abschluss relativ weniger innovativer Vereinbarungen hinterherzuhinken.
- 04 Apr 2002
EU Countries: L'évolution du temps de travail et la qualité du travail<#PDF_LINK>Au cours de ces dernières années, la relation entre le temps de travail et laqualité du travaila fait l'objet d'une attention croissante tant au niveau européen que national. Ce concept, bien que souvent défini de façon très générale, a été associé à des évolutions telles que le travail à temps partiel, les comptes épargne temps, les congés familiaux et sabbatiques, les horaires flexibles, le télétravail et la retraite à la carte. Cette étude comparative examine les débats sur ce thème aux niveaux national et européen et met en évidence les multiples initiatives gouvernementales et les positions des partenaires sociaux; elle étudie le niveau et le contenu des négociations collectives sur le sujet et présente l'ampleur de l'adhésion à un certain nombre d'aménagements du temps de travail. L'étude conclut qu'il existe un fossé considérable entre la rhétorique et la réalité en matière d'évolution du temps de travail et de qualité du travail. Alors que ce sujet a acquis une importance croissante dans l'ordre du jour des décideurs politiques et qu'on relève des initiatives gouvernementales significatives, la négociation collective semble en retard, avec relativement peu de conventions innovantes.
- 03 Apr 2002
Netherlands: Problems emerge as works councils' role expands<#PDF_LINK>In broad terms, works councils have become a generally accepted phenomenon in the Netherlands, and their role has expanded considerably over the years. At the same time, however, mounting problems have arisen, relating to issues such as a lack of interest in works councils among employees and the ability of individual works council members to perform their duties, which affects the performance of the works council as a whole. This raises the question of whether works councils are sufficiently capable of fulfilling their function as acountervailing power. We review the evidence as of early 2002.
- 03 Apr 2002
Sweden: 'Collaboration agreements' and statutory mediation helpful in 2001 bargaining round<#PDF_LINK>Many of the sectoral collective agreements signed in Sweden in 2001 came about following statutory mediation or similar procedures based on collaboration agreementsbetween the social partners. This is among the key findings of the first annual report of the new National Mediation Office, published in February 2002, which examines collective bargaining and wage formation in 2001.
- 03 Apr 2002
Spain: The restructuring of Hunosa and the coal sector<#PDF_LINK>In early 2002, a further restructuring of Hunosa, Spain's largest coal-mining company, is under negotiation, within the framework of the 1998-2005 national plan for the future of coal mining, against a background of EU plans to cut coal production. The restructuring will involve a reduction of some 2,600 in Hunosa's 6,200-strong workforce, and trade unions dispute some aspects of the proposals.