• About EIRO
• Annual reports
• Comparative Information
• EU level developments
• Browse by:
  • Country
  • Sector
  • Date
• Industrial relations links

May 2002

• 30 May 2002
  EU Countries: Vergleichende Übersicht der Arbeitsbeziehungen im Jahr 2001

  Dieser Bericht bietet eine vergleichende Übersicht über die Entwicklung der Arbeitsbeziehungen in der Europäischen Union und in Norwegen im Jahr 2001.

• 30 May 2002
  EU Countries: Vue d'ensemble comparative des relations industrielles en 2001

  Le présent document présente une vue d'ensemble comparative de l'évolution des relations industrielles dans les États de l'Union européenne et la Norvège en 2001.

• 29 May 2002
  Austria: Largest union seeks new political strategy

  As a reaction to the changing political and social situation in Austria since the current conservative-populist coalition government took office in February 2000, the Union of Salaried Employees (GPA) - the largest affiliate of the ÖGB confederation - drew up a notable draft paper on new strategic principles in April 2002. This document, which will be submitted to GPA's general assembly in autumn 2002, suggests a more combative approach for the union. It may be indicative of the unions' future political and strategic orientations as, for the first time since the late 1980s, the performance of Austria's traditional system of social partnership is being questioned strongly from the union side

• 29 May 2002
  EU Level: European study finds women face training, promotion and work-life balance problems

  The findings of a major EU research project on the progress of women working in junior positions in the finance and retail sectors in eight Member States were presented in May 2002. The project found that: there is a lack of training, particularly in the retail sector; advancement opportunities are rare or not possible to take; and it is becoming increasingly difficult for women in these positions to manage work and their private lives.

• 28 May 2002
  Portugal: Financial incentives seek to stimulate open-ended recruitment

  A government Order adopted in Portugal in March 2002 aims to encourage permanent employment by means of financial subsidies for companies that convert a fixed-term contract, on expiry, into an open-ended contract. The new legislation is seen as necessary because fixed-term employment is continuing to increase (currently affecting some 15% of employees), especially among women.

• 28 May 2002
  Portugal: Trade unions support social inclusion of immigrants

  In 2002, Portuguese trade unions are increasingly focusing their attention on the issue of non-EU immigrant workers. As well as helping to legalise the situation of immigrants and participating in the legislative process and various public forums, the unions have also taken a number of initiatives to help improve social integration and assist immigrants. They are also calling for changes to immigration and integration policy.

• 24 May 2002
  Belgium: Railway reforms prove difficult

  On 22 March 2002, the Belgian parliament adopted legislation reforming the management structure of the NMBS/SNCB national railway company. Trade unions lost their seat on the board of directors, though they are represented on astrategic committee. On 25 April, Christian Heinzmann was nominated as the new chief executive. However, following reported problems with both politicians and trade unions he submitted his resignation on 1 May, to widespread astonishment.

• 24 May 2002
  Germany: Pilot agreements signed in metalworking after strike

  In May 2002, the collective bargaining parties in metalworking signed new agreements in the bargaining district of Baden-Württemberg, after 10 days of strike action. The new settlements, which are expected to be adopted as pilot agreements for the whole German metalworking industry, provide for pay increases of 4% in 2002 and 3.1% in 2003, as well as the introduction of a new grading system which abolishes the traditional distinction between blue- and white-collar workers.

• 23 May 2002
  Italy: New pact for employment and growth signed in Milan

  In May 2002, an agreement to foster employment was signed in Milan by the municipal authorities, trade unions and employers' organisations. Thispact for employment and growthfollows anemployment pactsigned in February 2000, which caused a split in the union ranks, as Cgil refused to sign it. The new pact has been signed by all the three main union confederations, including Cgil, and sets up a comprehensive framework for social concertation at local level.

• 23 May 2002
  Italy: Reform of 'social shock absorbers' may help relaunch government-union dialogue

  After the general strike of 16 April 2002, there had been no resumption of talks between the Italian social partners and government on reform of the labour market by mid-May. In order to break this apparent stalemate, the trade union confederations Cgil, Cisl and Uil have called forcefully for dialogue to resume shortly with the government and have drawn up some proposals to help talks, focusing, in particular, on a substantial reform of the so-called social shock absorbers(the measures which help cushion the effects of job losses and restructuring).

• 23 May 2002
  Spain: CEOE proposes measures to develop information society

  In February 2002, Spain's CEOE employers' organisation issued a report examining the development of new information and communication technologies in the Spanish and European economies, and proposing measures to develop theinformation societyin the future. This issue, which is of enormous importance to the future of employment and the economy, is only now starting to emerge in Spanish industrial relations.

• 23 May 2002
  Spain: Controversy over proposed reform of personal income tax

  April 2002 saw publication of the report of a commission set up by the Spanish government to examine a reform of the system of personal income tax. The report proposes a reduction in tax rates and in the number of tax brackets, along with various measures for families and children. While supported by employers, the report has met with total rejection by the trade unions, not least because of its repercussions for women and families.

• 23 May 2002
  Norway: No changes proposed to labour disputes legislation

  In March 2002, the Norwegian government issued proposals for amendments to the legislation relating to labour disputes. The government proposes only minor modifications and does not recommend any changes to the present legal framework in areas such as bargaining, mediation and ballots over mediation proposals, which have been the subject of substantial debate in recent years.

• 23 May 2002
  France: Social partners discuss 'good practices' for employment

  French trade unions and employers' associations have been conducting a study of the employment-relatedgood practicesthat other EU Member States have implemented under the European employment strategy. Following this initial experiment, an EU-wide network of national-level social partners involved in their countries' National Action Plans for employment will be created during the course of 2002.

• 23 May 2002
  Finland: Employers' pay comparison report rejected by unions

  In May 2002, the Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers (TT) published a report comparing Finnish pay levels with those in other countries, which states that the total wages of Finnish industrial employees are among the highest in EU. According to the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the report seeks to promote employers' aims and represents an opening shot in the next incomes policy bargaining round.

• 22 May 2002
  Italy: Major restructuring agreement signed at Alitalia

  In late March 2002, an important agreement was reached by Alitalia and trade unions on the restructuring of the Italian airline. The agreement relates to the company's business plan for 2002-3 and covers four main areas: general company restructuring measures, a joint procedure for monitoring the implementation of the business plan; ways to reduce labour costs; and confirmation of the employee shareholding scheme as a strategic instrument to enhance workforce involvement in company management.

• 22 May 2002
  Denmark: Municipal/county sector deal narrowly approved

  At the end of April 2002, a new collective agreement for Denmark's municipal/county sector, arrived at through conciliation, was approved in a ballot of members of the trade unions affiliated to the KTO bargaining cartel. However, the overall margin in favour was very narrow, with the members of teachers' and nurses' unions overwhelmingly opposed, mainly due to disagreement over a new pay system being introduced in the public sector. The ballot result led to criticism from some unions of the bargaining and voting procedure.

• 22 May 2002
  Belgium: Bill seeks better legal coordination of company closures

  Belgian law should soon be clearer with regard to company closures. A government bill adopted by the lower house of parliament in May 2002 seeks to coordinate all existing law in this area. It covers a range of issues including information for workers and redundancy payments, and the competences of the Redundancy Payments Fund, particularly in relation to enterprises in the not-for-profit sector. The bill awaits approval in the Senate.

• 22 May 2002
  Spain: 35-hour week spreads slowly

  Over 1998-2000, the possible introduction of a 35-hour working week was a particularly hot topic in Spanish industrial relations. Here we review the spread of the 35-hour week up until the end of 2001, finding that nearly 1.4 million workers now have an agreed 35-hour week, with more progress made in the public sector than the private. However, it appears that the issue is no longer as prominent as it was.

• 22 May 2002
  Spain: Domestic work examined

  In 2002, Spanish trade unions have been raising the issue of the problems faced by domestic workers. Work in Spain's domestic service sector is mainly done by women, and is increasingly becoming the main form of integration into the labour market for female immigrants. Domestic workers are covered by a special system of employment law and social security, which is inferior in many respects to that enjoyed by other workers. There is much informal and irregular employment, and pay and conditions are reported to be deteriorating. The unions want the special system for domestic workers to be brought into line with the general legal and social security system.

• 22 May 2002
  France: Social partners react to presidential election result

  On 21 April 2002, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the candidate supported by the far-right National Front, came second in the first round of France's presidential election, thus progressing to the second round of voting at the expense of the Socialist Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin. This unexpected development brought various, though overwhelmingly negative, reactions from trade unions and employers' associations. The events also significantly swelled attendance at the Labour Day demonstrations on 1 May.

• 21 May 2002
  Germany: Broad alliance supports second 'Girls' Day' initiative

  In April 2002, the Ministry for Education and Research took the lead in coordinating Germany's secondGirls' Day- a well received campaign, supported by trade unions and employers, which seeks to encourage female students' interest in technological jobs. The background is the fact that, although women have caught up with men in terms of school education, the labour market is still structured along gender lines. There are differences in the job orientations of young men and women, which keep the latter away from occupations in high technology areas.

• 21 May 2002
  Portugal: Social partners and new government discuss reform

  In May 2002, discussions were underway between Portugal's new centre-right government and the social partners on possible reform of various areas of social and employment policy, including social security and labour law flexibility.

• 21 May 2002
  Finland: Government plans to extend paternity leave

  In April 2002, the Finnish government submitted to parliament a report on child-related policy, which proposes that fathers specifically should be entitled to one month of childcare-related leave. At the same time, the social partners have promoted fathers' leave by conducting atime out for familycampaign, aimed at achieving a more equal use of family leave periods and increasing equal opportunities in working life.

• 21 May 2002
  Germany: First major agreements of 2002 bargaining round reached in chemicals

  In April 2002, new collective agreements were concluded for the west and east German chemicals industry, providing for a 3.3% pay increase, an additional 0.3% increase as a result of a modernisation of the pay framework agreement, and a further adjustment of east German pay to west German levels. As the first major agreements signed in the 2002 bargaining round, the chemicals agreements will have an important influence on the ongoing negotiations in other sectors.

• 20 May 2002
  Ireland: SIPTU broadly positive on partnership outcomes

  In April 2002, Ireland's largest trade union, the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) issued a briefing document assessing the principal outcomes of the current national partnership agreement, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF). SIPTU has begun an extensive consultative process among its membership to address the challenge ofhow best to pursue the union's priorities post-PPF. The union is broadly positive in its assessment of the outcomes of the partnership process, albeit with some reservations.

• 20 May 2002
  United Kingdom: Partnership 'alive and well'

  Partnershipis an important yet elusive concept in UK industrial relations, and there are different assessments of its extent and effectiveness. Studies published in late 2001 and 2002 have found that certain aspects of partnership are problematic but that overall it isalive and well.

• 20 May 2002
  United Kingdom: Signs of growth in UK automotive industry offset plant closures

  Whilst the first quarter of 2002 saw the closure of Ford's Dagenham plant and Vauxhall's Luton plant, with the loss of 3,000 jobs, there appear to be signs of growth in the UK automotive sector, including significant recent investment by Peugeot, BMW, Nissan and Honda. Flexible working continues to be the focus of collective bargaining.

• 09 May 2002
  Sweden: Economic effects of working time cuts examined

  In March 2002, Sweden's National Institute of Economic Research published the findings of research into the economic effects of a general cut in working time. It predicts generally negative effects, at least in the short term, on production, economic growth, consumption and wages. The Institute's report will feed into the work of a parliamentary commission examining a possible statutory reduction in working hours.

• 09 May 2002
  Spain: Pre-retirement systems examined

  In Spain, there is a complex system of different forms of retirement, including retirement at the normal age, early retirement and pre-retirement. This feature examines the various forms of pre-retirement - whereby older workers workers give up their jobs and receive compensation, rights to social protection and a supplement from the company. The government and social partners have differing views on the issue.

• 08 May 2002
  Greece: New collective agreement signed for journalists

  In April 2002, following two months of tension, a series of strikes and difficult negotiations, the Athens Daily Newspaper Journalists' Union (ESIEA) and the Association of Athens Daily Newspaper Owners (EIIEA) concluded a new collective agreement for journalists. The one-year agreement provides for pay increases, a five-day normal working week and protection against collective redundancies.

• 08 May 2002
  Italy: Little sign of negotiations resuming after general strike

  On 16 April 2002, the three main Italian trade union confederations - Cgil, Cisl and Uil - held a general strike to protest against the centre-right government's labour market reforms. The unions claim that 90% of workers took part in the strike, while employers put the figure at less than 60%. Following the strike, the trade unions met to discuss the chances of resuming negotiations with the government, but the climate does not currently seem favourable.

• 08 May 2002
  Sweden: Labour Court rules in pregnancy sex discrimination case

  In April 2002, the Swedish Labour Court delivered its judgment in a sex discrimination case involving a midwife who was not recruited for a job, even though she was the best qualified applicant. At the time, the midwife in question was pregnant. The Labour Court ruled that she had been subject to sex discrimination, although all the other applicants were also women.

• 08 May 2002
  Sweden: Varying trends in union membership

  According to figures published in spring 2002, Swedish trade unions are facing differing trends in membership. In 2001, the professional workers' unions affiliated to the SACO confederation recorded a membership increase of 4.4%, while the white-collar unions affiliated to TCO experienced a rise of 1.3%. However, the largest confederation, the blue-collar LO, lost 2.6% of its members.

• 08 May 2002
  Netherlands: Government falls as union demands resignation of army leaders

  In April 2002, the Dutch government resigned after the publication of research into the events around the fall of the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica, which was under the protection of Dutch peacekeepers, in 1995. Trade unions representing military personnel have called for the resignation of the army leadership at the time and for a parliamentary inquiry, which has now been launched.

• 08 May 2002
  France: Customs officers take industrial action

  During March-April 2002, uniformed customs officers in France took various forms of industrial action to support demands for an increase in their danger bonus and enhanced pension conditions. It appears that proposals tabled by the Minister of the Economy and Finance on 22 April satisfied the demands of the officers' inter-union committee, and striking workers returned to work in most regions, with the notable exception of Orly airport.

• 08 May 2002
  France: Public transport strike in Lyons

  Over March-April 2002, the public transport network of Lyons in France was hit by a 22-day strike called by trade unions over wage demands. The dispute was brought to an end by an agreement concluded on 11 April.

• 08 May 2002
  Denmark: Agreement concluded for municipal/county sector

  A new three-year collective agreement for Denmark's 650,000 local government employees was signed after a ballot on 30 April 2002. Trade union members were, for the first time in the sector's history, asked to vote on a proposal for a settlement drawn up by the Official Conciliation Service. Some 150,000 members voted for the proposal, whereas 140,000 voted against.

• 07 May 2002
  Ireland: Aer Lingus pilots dispute at delicate stage

  In April 2002, pilots at Ireland's loss-making state-owned airline, Aer Lingus, looked set to oppose a set of findings on changes to working practices proposed by a jointly appointed independent arbitrator, but seemed likely to back a separate set of proposals aimed at resolving a dispute over 86 redundancies among pilots. The various proposals form part of a wider Aer Lingus survival plan.

• 07 May 2002
  Ireland: Amicus/MSF's membership of ICTU under debate

  In spring 2002, complications are continuing to arise from the expulsion of the UK-based trade union AEEU from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), and the former's ongoing merger with another UK-based union, MSF, to form Amicus. The national secretary of MSF in Ireland insists that it will remain an ICTU affiliate after the merger is completed, but the situation is still unclear.

• 07 May 2002
  Germany: Ground-breaking agreement signed for Lufthansa call centre

  In April 2002, Germany's Unified Service Sector Union (ver.di) signed the first company agreement for the 200 employees working at the Lufthansa airline's call centre. Ver.di stated that the settlement may provide a pattern to be copied by other call centres.

• 07 May 2002
  Austria: Plan to extend unemployment insurance coverage to 'atypical' workers

  In March 2002, the Austrian Minister for Economic and Labour Affairs issued proposals to extend unemployment insurance coverage toatypicalworkers working either under afree-service contractor acontract for work- a group which has grown significantly over the past few years and now involves around 50,000 people . Currently, only dependent employees are subject to obligatory unemployment insurance and therefore entitled to receive unemployment benefit on losing their jobs.

• 07 May 2002
  EU Level: Conciliation committee agrees text of draft equal treatment Directive

  A draft EU Directive updating the 1976 equal treatment Directive is nearing final adoption, following the agreement of a compromise text by a Council/European Parliament conciliation committee in April 2002. The text, which covers matters including sexual harassment, now goes to the Parliament and the Council for final approval.

• 07 May 2002
  EU Level: Age diversity guidelines agreed in commerce sector

  In March 2002, the European-level social partners in the commerce sector agreed a set of voluntary guidelines on promoting age diversity at the workplace. The guidelines focus on areas such as non-discrimination, equal access to training, and adaptability of working time arrangements in order to allow older workers to carry on participating actively in the labour force.

• 07 May 2002
  United Kingdom: UK union leader to seek ETUC post

  In late March 2002, John Monks, general secretary of the UK's Trades Union Congress, signalled his intention to stand down from his current position and seek election to the post of general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation.

• 07 May 2002
  Belgium: Legislation to be adopted on workplace harassment

  In April 2002, a government bill relating to protection from violence, moral harassment (bullying) and sexual harassment at the workplace was nearing adoption in the Belgian federal parliament. The bill, submitted by the Minister of Employment and Labour, has prompted disagreement among the social partners. In the view of employers' associations, the bill is unsuited to labour relations in enterprises.

• 07 May 2002
  Spain: Fontaneda biscuit factory faced with closure

  In April 2002, the Fontaneda biscuit factory in Aguilar de Campoo (Castilla-León, Spain) was threatened with closure by its owner, the multinational United Biscuits. The announcement met with fierce protests from the workforce and the inhabitants of Aguilar de Campoo, and the closure was suspended pending negotiations between management and the plant's workers' committee.

• 07 May 2002
  Spain: Social partners assess collective bargaining in 2002

  In April 2002, Spain's central social partner organisations - CEOE and CEPYME for employers and CC.OO and UGT for trade unions - issued a joint statement on collective bargaining in the wake of their December 2001 agreement laying down guidelines for bargaining in 2002. The social partners' assessment is positive, and they claim that the agreement's commitment to pay moderation is being upheld.

• 07 May 2002
  United Kingdom: New challenge to UK's working time legislation

  It emerged during April 2002 that the European Commission has started infringement proceedings against the UK over alleged inadequacies in implementing the EU working time Directive. The move follows a complaint by the Amicus trade union and could result in further changes in UK law to ensure compliance with the Directive.

• 07 May 2002
  France: Strike over job losses at Daewoo

  Employees at Daewoo's television-manufacturing plant in Lorraine, eastern France, came out on strike in April 2002 after the company announced a plan to cut 120 jobs. The workforce has called for the state to intercede with the Korean-based group, which received government grants when it set up factories in the region.

• 07 May 2002
  Finland: Social partners issue statement on good working time practices

  In spring 2002, the Finnish national-level social partners issued a joint statement on good working time practices. It states that flexible working hours should be arranged in a way that meets the requirement of markets and customers, while at the same time the individual needs of employees should also be taken into consideration.

• 07 May 2002
  Germany: IG Metall calls strike in metalworking

  On 6 May 2002, Germany's IG Metall metalworkers' union called a strike in itsflagshipBaden-Württemberg bargaining district after negotiations over a new collective agreement failed. While IG Metall demanded a 6.5% wage increase, the Gesamtmetall employers' association offered a package worth 3.25% (according to union calculations). Although large-scale strikes are rare in its post-war history, IG Metall has gone to some lengths to develop a new strike strategy, which seeks to avoid spill-over effects to other districts which are not yet included in the strike campaign.

• 03 May 2002
  EU Countries: Die Lohngleichstellung der Geschlechter in Europa

  In der gesamten EU und in Norwegen besteht immer noch ein erhebliches Lohngefälle zwischen Frauen und Männern. Sowohl auf nationaler als auch auf europäischer Ebene bereitet diese verbleibende Lohndiskrepanz den Politikern, aber auch den Frauen selbst, zunehmend Sorge. Angesichts der europäischen Beschäftigungsstrategie und ihrer Betonung der Chancengleichheit wird dieses Thema gerade jetzt besonders aktuell. Die vorliegende Vergleichsstudie untersucht die folgenden Fragestellungen: die generelle Entwicklung der Einkommensunterschiede in der EU und in Norwegen; gesetzliche Maßnahmen zur Verhinderung der Lohndiskriminierung und der Verbesserung der Konditionen für Frauen; die Beziehung zwischen Lohngleichstellung und Tarifverhandlungen; die Einstellung der Sozialpartner und die Behandlung des Themas Lohngleichstellung in den Nationalen Aktionsplänen zur Beschäftigung der einzelnen EU-Mitgliedstaaten.

• 03 May 2002
  EU Countries: Égalité de rémunération entre les hommes et les femmes en Europe

  Il existe encore des inégalités salariales importantes entre les hommes et les femmes dans l'UE et la Norvège. Cet écart de rémunération suscite une préoccupation croissante parmi les décideurs politiques et les femmes elles-mêmes tant au niveau national qu'européen. La question est particulièrement d'actualité, à la lumière de la stratégie européenne pour l'emploi et de l'accent placé sur l'égalité des chances. Cette étude comparative porte sur l'évolution générale de l'écart de rémunération dans l'UE et en Norvège, les mesures légales pour lutter contre la discrimination salariale à l'égard des femmes et pour améliorer leurs conditions salariales, les relations entre la question de l'équité salariale et la négociation collective, l'approche adoptée par les partenaires sociaux et la question de l'égalité de rémunération dans les plans d'action nationaux pour l'emploi des États membres de l'UE.