November 2002
- 29 Nov 2002
Portugal: Debate continues over proposed Labour Code<#PDF_LINK>Over the second half of 2002, the industrial relations agenda in Portugal has been dominated by the government's proposal for a Labour Code, which would replace most current labour legislation by bringing existing provisions together in a single text. At the same time, current provisions would be amended in a variety of areas. This article reviews the initial stage of the debate, which ended in November with the submission of a draft to parliament, and highlights the main proposals relating to individual employment law.
- 29 Nov 2002
Portugal: Social partner involvement in the 2002 NAP<#PDF_LINK>This feature examines social partner involvement in Portugal's 2002 National Action Plan (NAP) for employment. It is one of a set of similar features for all the EU Member States, written in response to a questionnaire
- 28 Nov 2002
Slovenia: Strike legislation and trends examined<#PDF_LINK>This feature outlines the development of the legislation on strikes in Slovenia and the current legal provisions in 2002. It also examines data on strikes in industry, which have been gradually decreasing since the early 1990s, and looks at strikes in the public service sector, where recent years have seen a number of major disputes.
- 28 Nov 2002
Slovakia: The regulation of collective disputes<#PDF_LINK>The settlement of collective disputes in Slovakia has been successfully regulated by the 1991 Act on Collective Bargaining for more than 10 years, and the country experiences almost no industrial action. Under this legislation, the social partners, before deciding to hold a strike or lock-out, must first apply procedures aimed at resolving the dispute. Over recent years, the number of the registered collective disputes has decreased while the number of disputes successfully settled through mediation has increased.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: New rules to tackle gender discrimination at work<#PDF_LINK>Despite a long-standing prohibition of gender-based discrimination at work in Poland, the evidence indicates that discrimination against women remains widespread, while it has been very difficult for victims of discrimination to seek legal redress. Amendments made to the Labour Code in 2002 seek to tackle these problems, including by making it easier to bring court cases.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: New minimum wage legislation criticised by unions<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Polish parliament passed a new law on the minimum wage, which should come into force in early 2003. The new legislation increases the minimum wage, amends the way in which it is set, and sets a lower rate for recent school-leavers. The trade unions have been very critical of the new provisions.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: Labour costs analysed<#PDF_LINK>Labour costs in Poland account for a relatively small share of the overall costs of production, with the share of net wages being especially low. This results from the comparatively high tax burden on labour. The actual level of labour costs depends, first of all, on the branch of the economy, followed by the size of the enterprises involved and their ownership status. The highest wages in Poland, and consequently also the highest labour costs, are still found in mining, despite recent restructuring. Poland has much lower labour costs than the EU Member States or the USA, but higher than those in some neighbouring central European countries.
- 28 Nov 2002
Poland: Controversy over abolition of pre-retirement allowance<#PDF_LINK>In late 2001, one of the statutory instruments accompanying Poland's national budget for 2002 abolished thepre-retirement allowance, which allowed people meeting certain age and employment requirements to cease work before retirement age. No new benefits of this sort are now being paid, although the payment of pre-retirement allowances allocated in the past is being continued. As of August 2002, almost 350,000 registered unemployed people were collecting such benefits. The amendment of the pre-retirement benefit laws has been challenged before Poland's Constitutional Tribunal independently by four parties, including the country's two principal trade union organisations, OPZZ and NSZZ Solidarność.
- 28 Nov 2002
Slovenia: The development and current situation of employers' organisations<#PDF_LINK>Slovenia has a number of organisations representing employers' interests, bothchambersof which membership is compulsory, and more conventional associations with voluntary membership. In 2002, reforms are in prospect which will curtail or end the chambers' role in industrial relations and introduce criteria for assessing the representativeness of employers' organisations for the purposes of concluding collective agreements and representation on tripartite bodies. This article examines the development of employers' organisations and the current position.
- 27 Nov 2002
Germany: IG Metall discusses working time policy<#PDF_LINK>In April 2003, it will be possible to terminate the current framework agreements on working time in the German metalworking industry. Against this background, the IG Metall metalworkers' trade union held a three-day meeting in late October 2002 to discuss its working time policies for 2003. IG Metall's goal is to reduce weekly working time in eastern Germany from 38 to 35 hours and to establish the 35-hour week throughout its organisational area. Furthermore, the union will focus on questions of working time organisation and thus increasedtime sovereigntyfor workers.
- 27 Nov 2002
Poland: Industrial relations and work in foreign hypermarket chains<#PDF_LINK>The 1990s witnessed the rapid development in Poland of chains of large supermarkets, or hypermarkets, operated by foreign-owned companies (principally from Germany and France). In 2002, there are approximately 20 foreign retail chains with operations in Poland; between them, they run some 400 large outlets employing around 80,000 Polish workers. Trade unions have experienced considerable difficulties in establishing a presence in these firms, while research carried out by the State Labour Inspection indicates that foreign hypermarket chains frequently do not abide by the Polish Labour Code.
- 27 Nov 2002
Sweden: Wage decreases very rare<#PDF_LINK>During the severe recession of the 1990s, only 1.1% of Swedish workers accepted a cut in their regular nominal pay. This wage rigidity in Sweden is the result of a number of factors, including the provisions of labour law and collective agreements. These are among the findings of a report published in August 2002 by the Swedish Institute for Labour Market Policy Evaluations (IFAU).
- 26 Nov 2002
Netherlands: Wage gaps for women and foreign nationals narrowing but persistent<#PDF_LINK>According to research published in autumn 2002, despite some narrowing of the gap between 1998 and 2000, the wages of women and foreign nationals in the Netherlands still lag behind those of male Dutch nationals. The average wage gap between women and men was 15% in 2000, compared with 18% in 1998. Around a third of the gender wage gap remains after factors such as education and experience have been discounted, while researchers highlight labour market segregation intomaleandfemalesectors. On average, foreign nationals from outside western Europe receive far lower wages than other workers, but experience a narrower gender wage gap.
- 26 Nov 2002
Luxembourg: New bill on trade union representativeness and industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, Luxembourg's Minister of Labour and Employment presented a new bill dealing with collective labour relations, the regulation of collective labour disputes, and the National Conciliation Office. The bill redefines the controversial concept of thenational representativenessof trade unions, while at the same time professionalising the work of the National Conciliation Office and setting up a national industrial relations observatory.
- 26 Nov 2002
Hungary: Industrial relations in the construction industry examined<#PDF_LINK>Since the late 1980s, the Hungarian construction sector has undergone major changes, which have been accompanied by the emergence of a fragmented and decentralised industrial relations system. However, current efforts to develop a meaningful social dialogue at the sectoral level have already resulted in a new initiative to negotiate over a multi-employer collective agreement, and might lead to sector-level representative bodies on both sides gaining strength. This article examines the development of industrial relations in construction and the situation in 2002.
- 26 Nov 2002
Spain: Government amends unemployment benefit reform<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Spanish government, faced with trade union opposition, announced that it would amend its controversial May 2002 reform of the unemployment benefit system. Spain is thought to have one of lowest levels of unemployment protection in the EU, and the May reform contained measures that weakened this protection further. This article compares the Spanish unemployment cover system with those of other EU countries and outlines the government's latest amendments.
- 26 Nov 2002
Spain: 2003 state budget approved<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 2002, Spain's conservative People's Party government adopted the 2003 state budget, which continues an economic policy based on restricted expenditure, a zero public deficit and cuts in direct taxes such as personal income tax. The trade unions, and much of the political opposition, consider that the government's economic policy is highly conservative and that its diagnosis of the socio-economic context is too optimistic.
- 26 Nov 2002
Norway: Labour Court rules in pension transfer case<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Norwegian Labour Court ruled that the transfer of occupational pension schemes from the municipally owned insurance company KLP to private insurance companies, which was carried out by 11 municipalities in 1998, was contrary to the Basic Collective Agreement in the municipal sector. The 11 municipalities involved have until 1 July 2003 to make sure that their pension schemes satisfy the requirements of the collective agreement with regard to the type of financing.
- 26 Nov 2002
Sweden: Commission proposes stronger protection for fixed-term employees and workers on parental leave<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, a government-appointed commission that had been examining Swedish legislation on job security and parental leave issued its recommendations. It proposes less complicated rules, stronger employment protection for fixed-term employees and workers taking parental leave, and new principles governing consultation between employers and individual employees.
- 26 Nov 2002
Finland: Social partners conclude new two-year incomes policy agreement<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, the central Finnish social partner organisations concluded a new two-year incomes policy agreement for 2003-4. The cost effect of the agreed wage increases is 2.9% in 2003 and 2.2% in 2004. Some key trade union demands - such as increased redundancy compensation and minimum working hours - were achieved only partially. In order to facilitate the agreement, the government promised an employment package and tax cuts. It is hoped that the deal will stabilise the uncertain economic situation. The central agreement now needs to be approved by individual trade unions and then implemented by sectoral negotiations.
- 21 Nov 2002
Italy: Social partners respond to 2003 budget law<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Italian cabinet approved the 2003 budget law, which includes measures such as tax cuts, reductions in public administration expenditure and a range of one-off revenue-generating measures. The social partners reacted in different ways to the budget. Employers were harshly critical, while the trade unions were divided in their views.
- 21 Nov 2002
Spain: CEOE evaluates competitiveness of Spanish 'labour model'<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Spain's CEOE employers' confederation issued a report examining the country's competitiveness and making proposals for improving it. In this article we highlight the report's findings and recommendations related to industrial relations and the labour market. CEOE focuses on issues such as training, internal flexibility of companies, collective bargaining and work organisation.
- 21 Nov 2002
Greece: Concern over accidents at work<#PDF_LINK>A number of fatal workplace accidents during 2002, including a number at Olympic Games worksites, have raised concerns over Greece's increasing level of accidents at work. Trade unions have responded with strikes at a number of workplaces affected by major accidents and calls for tighter regulation. The government has taken a number of measures and promised new legislation.
- 21 Nov 2002
Norway: Major union merger in municipal sector<#PDF_LINK>A new public sector trade union will be established in summer 2003 when the Norwegian Union of Municipal Employees (NKF) and the Norwegian Association of Health and Social Care Personnel (NHS) merge. The new organisation will have some 280,000 members, making it Norway's largest trade union.
- 21 Nov 2002
Netherlands: Debate over viability of collective bargaining system<#PDF_LINK>In 2002, the basic legislative framework for collective bargaining is 75 years' old, and the relevant laws have changed little over this period. However, certain provisions of the legislation - notably on extending collective agreements to non-signatory employer, and on applying agreements to non-union employees - are increasing under debate.
- 21 Nov 2002
France: Government plans civil service job cuts<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, it was confirmed that the French government will cut over 1,700 posts in the civil service in 2003, mainly in education, finance and public works. The staffing cuts are linked to decentralisation and reform of the state on the one hand and, on the other, to the opportunity resulting from the large numbers of French civil servants currently taking retirement. The move has led to various strikes, notably in the national education sector.
- 20 Nov 2002
EU Countries: Évolution des salaires - mise à jour annuelle 2001<#PDF_LINK>Dans cette mise à jour annuelle, nous passons en revue les grandes tendances de l'évolution des salaires dans les pays de l'Union européenne (Norvège comprise) en 2000 et 2001. Nous observons que les augmentations salariales négociées collectivement ont été en moyenne de l'ordre de 3,2% en 2000 et de 3,5% en 2001 - des variations majeures existant toutefois selon les pays. L'augmentation régulière du taux de croissance observée depuis 1999 laisse supposer que lamodérationsalariale a subi des pressions dans certains pays (ce fut notamment le cas dans lazone euroen 2001). Cependant, si l'on tient compte de l'augmentation des prix et de la productivité, il semble que la modération ait globalement persisté, bien qu'elle fléchisse. Sur le plan sectoriel, les augmentations dans le secteur de la métallurgie et le secteur bancaire ont dépassé celles du secteur public local en 2000, mais ce dernier arattrapéson retard en 2001.
- 20 Nov 2002
Belgium: Fatal accident revives debate on safety standards for subcontractors<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, an explosion led to the death of two temporary agency workers, and seriously injured more than 20 other workers, at a Cockerill Sambre iron and steel plant in Belgium. This accident has revived debate on workplace safety, particularly in respect of subcontractors and agency workers, who have a higher than average rate of workplace accidents, despite the existence of preventive measures.
- 20 Nov 2002
Ireland: Diageo concludes innovative EWC agreement<#PDF_LINK>A revised European Works Council (EWC) agreement was unveiled in October 2002, at Diageo, the UK-based owners of Guinness, the major Irish brewer. The new Diageo Europe Forum (DEF) agreement contains a number of novel features, including improved consultation rights, a code of practice on redundancies, an extension to encompass central and eastern European operations, and a new steering committee.
- 20 Nov 2002
Germany: Implications of the new 'red-Green' government for industrial relations<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, German's new Social Democrat-Green government concluded a coalition agreement which sets out its programme for the next four years. In the areas of industrial relations and employment, the new government will focus on the implementation of a labour market reform plan, a more growth-oriented employment policy and several legislative initiatives promoting employees' rights and gender equality. The response of the trade unions has been mostly positive but the employers, on the whole, are not in favour of the intended measures.
- 20 Nov 2002
Denmark: Three unions plan merger<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, three trade unions affiliated to the Confederation of Danish Trade Unions (LO) agreed to take the first joint step towards a merger. The proposed merger of the General Workers' Union (SiD), the Union of Female Workers (KAD), and the Union of Wood, Industrial and Building Workers (TIB) would create Denmark's largest union with about 470,000 members. This would amount to around a third of LO members, and the confederation would risk losing influence if the merged union were established.
- 20 Nov 2002
EU Level: Commission issues second stage consultation on data protection<#PDF_LINK>In late October 2002, the European Commission launched the second stage of consultations of the social partners on the topic of data protection at the workplace. The European-level social partners have until mid-December 2002 to submit their comments or decide to take their own EU-wide initiative on the issue.
- 20 Nov 2002
EU Level: Commission issues 2002 industrial relations in Europe report<#PDF_LINK>In late October 2002, the European Commission issued its Industrial Relations in Europe 2002 report. The report details major developments in European labour relations during 2000 and 2001 and, for the first time, includes a section on the countries applying to join the EU.
- 20 Nov 2002
Austria: Implementation of new severance pay system proves difficult<#PDF_LINK>Under legislation adopted in June 2002, a new severance pay scheme will apply to all private sector employment contracts concluded in Austria from 1 January 2003. Under the new system, special funds will administer and invest employers' contributions to employees' severance pay. However, the new legal framework does not provide detailed regulations on some points, and the recently established funds are thus not able to offer serious calculations on administrative expenditure and the net rates of interest that can be achieved on invested severance pay contributions. Thus, in late 2002, only a few weeks before the new legislation comes into force, most companies have not yet decided which fund to use.
- 20 Nov 2002
Belgium: Controversy over reform of French-speaking radio and television<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 2002, Belgium's French-speaking radio and television service, RTBF, launched a reform process known as theMagellan plan. The aim is to modernise the organisational structure of RTBF and enable it to balance its finances, and the employment measures planned include 470 voluntary departures and 600 staff transfers. Trade unions are opposed to the employment aspects of the reform, and have held a number of strikes, while local groups have claimed that the plan means the disappearance of a community policy for French-speaking radio and television. However, the RTBF general administrator and architect of the reform, Jean-Paul Philippot, continues to enjoy support in political circles.
- 19 Nov 2002
United Kingdom: Employers and unions differ over revisions to national minimum wage<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002 the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress submitted evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the impact of the UK's national minimum wage and proposals for revised rates. We review the very different positions adopted by the two organisations.
- 19 Nov 2002
United Kingdom: New sectoral framework for meeting skills and productivity challenge<#PDF_LINK>In August 2002, the UK government began the process of developing a new network of nationwide sector skills councils responsible for leading a skills, productivity and competitiveness drive. This feature examines the background to the initiative, the main roles and responsibilities of the new bodies, and the key challenges they are likely to confront.
- 19 Nov 2002
EU Level: EESC gives Opinion on draft temporary agency work Directive<#PDF_LINK>At its plenary session in September 2002, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) issued its Opinion on the European Commission's proposal for a Directive regulating working conditions for temporary agency workers.
- 19 Nov 2002
EU Level: Commission launches new CSR forum<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the European Commission launched a new Europeanmulti-stakeholder forumon corporate social responsibility (CSR). Made up of 20 representatives from the social partners and interested parties, the forum will examine a range of issues and report to the Commission in 2004.
- 19 Nov 2002
EU Level: Commission makes new proposal for takeovers Directive<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the European Commission issued a new draft Directive on takeover bids, which would give information and consultation rights to employees and their representatives in the companies involved. These rights are somewhat stronger in the new proposal than in a previous version of the draft Directive, which was rejected by the European Parliament.
- 15 Nov 2002
United Kingdom: The fire service dispute and the reform of public service pay<#PDF_LINK>Pay negotiations between UK fire service employers and the Fire Brigades Union broke up without agreement on 12 November 2002. The following day the union began a series of strikes, starting with a 48-hour stoppage. This feature examines the issues raised by the dispute, and their wider implications for the reform of public sector pay.
- 14 Nov 2002
Ireland: ICTU puts statutory union recognition on the table<#PDF_LINK>In late 2002, for the first time, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is set to demand that the government introduce legislation - similar to that recently implemented in the UK - obliging employers to allow workers to be represented by a trade union.
- 14 Nov 2002
Ireland: Largest general and craft unions plan 'federation'<#PDF_LINK>In a move that stops short of a merger, two of Ireland's most powerful trade unions, the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) and the Technical Electrical and Engineering Union (TEEU), are on the verge of establishing afederationby the end of 2002.
- 14 Nov 2002
Hungary: Last-minute agreement averts Malév flight attendants strike<#PDF_LINK>In November 2002, last minute-talks averted a strike by flight attendants at Malév, the Hungarian national airline. Management and the flight attendants' trade union reached an agreement to increase the per diem allowance paid to attendants, and to increase their maximum annual number of flight hours.
- 14 Nov 2002
Hungary: Agreement between IBM and unions over plant closure<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, IBM announced that it was to close its Hungarian hard-disk manufacturing facility, located in Székesfehérvár, employing 3,700 people. In early November, an agreement was signed between IBM and the local trade unions and works council concerning the rules for the redundancy process.
- 08 Nov 2002
EU Level: European health and safety week focuses on stress<#PDF_LINK>The 2002 European week for safety and health and work, held in October, centred on the increasingly visible problem of work-related stress. Events were held in the EU Member States, the candidate countries and EFTA countries.
- 08 Nov 2002
EU Level: EU unemployment on the increase<#PDF_LINK>Over the year to August 2002, the unemployment rate rose from 7.3% to 7.7% across the EU, and from 8.0% to 8.3% in the euro-zone. Member States have widely differing unemployment rates, but levels are increasing in most countries.
- 08 Nov 2002
EU Level: Social dialogue conference held in electricity sector<#PDF_LINK>A two-day European-level electricity sector social dialogue conference was held in September 2002. Participants discussed a range of issues relating to social dialogue and liberalisation in the industry, in both the EU and the candidate countries.
- 08 Nov 2002
Greece: Transfer of undertakings Directive transposed<#PDF_LINK>In July 2002, the Greek government issued a Presidential Decree on the safeguarding of employees’ rights in transfers of undertakings, in order to transpose the amended 1998 EU Directive on the issue.
- 06 Nov 2002
France: Study examines integration of young people of foreign origin<#PDF_LINK>A report from France's Economic and Social Council on the social integration of young people of foreign extraction, adopted in September 2002, highlights the interdependent and cumulative nature of the discrimination affecting these members of society. Problems include disparities in achievement in the school system, unequal access to employment and concentration in deprived areas.
- 06 Nov 2002
France: 'Redundancy supremo' appointed<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, against a background of increasing job losses, the French government appointed Claude Viet to the new position ofredundancy supremo. His role is to set up an interministerial body to coordinate government action addressing the impact of company restructuring and its effect on employees.
- 06 Nov 2002
Portugal: Civil servants take strike action<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Portuguese civil servants took strike action in opposition to the government's highly restrictive state budget for 2003, which includes strict limits on civil service pay. Civil servants also played an active part in a wider day of action called in protest at the government's so-calledlabour packageof labour law and social security reform. Further civil service strikes are planned.
- 06 Nov 2002
Poland: NSZZ Solidarność organises protests<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Poland's NSZZ Solidarność trade union organised two demonstrations in Warsaw. In both cases, violence occurred between the protesters and the police. The protests were directed against the present government's policy regarding some branches of industry, and were also a response to the recent liberalisation of the Labour Code.
- 06 Nov 2002
Poland: STOEN premises occupied in protest against sell-off<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, activists from a little-known organisation called the Defence Movement of the Unemployed briefly occupied the premises of STOEN, a publicly-owned Polish energy distribution company. They were protesting against the sale of the majority of the company's shares to a German company. However, the employees of STOEN are not opposed to the privatisation process.
- 06 Nov 2002
France: CGPME elects new president<#PDF_LINK>In the wake of the resignation of its president, Jacques Freidel in June 2002, France's CGPME small and medium-sized employers' organisation elected Jean-François Roubaud as its new president at its general assembly on 16 October 2002.
- 06 Nov 2002
Spain: Agreement to reduce temporary employment in Navarre<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the regional government of Navarre in Spain and the CC.OO trade union signed an agreement to promote stable recruitment and reduce temporary employment. This pioneering agreement reinforces the systems of control of temporary recruitment and promotes collective bargaining on the conversion of temporary contracts into open-ended ones.
- 06 Nov 2002
Portugal: RTP calls for voluntary job losses<#PDF_LINK>In September 2002, the board of the Portuguese national broadcasting company, RTP, called for some 1,000 of its employees to resign, with additional compensation, or take early retirement. The move is linked to major restructuring of RTP. By November, 600 employees had left the company.
- 06 Nov 2002
Belgium: CSC/ACV congress calls for 'fair pay'<#PDF_LINK>At its congress in October 2002, Belgium's Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CSC/ACV) focused on the issue offair pay. The whole issue of inequalities in resources and income was debated, and a range of proposals aimed at reducing these inequalities was adopted. The congress also prepared for the coming negotiations over an intersectoral agreement for 2003-4, and agreed a number of changes to CSC/ACV's internal structures, including measures to increase the representation of women.
- 05 Nov 2002
United Kingdom: Unions seek wide-ranging employment law reforms<#PDF_LINK>As part of a review of the Employment Relations Act, initiated by the UK government in July 2002, the Trades Union Congress has put forward proposals for a wide range of amendments to current legislation.
- 05 Nov 2002
Spain: Studies highlight problems in reconciling work and family life<#PDF_LINK>A number of studies published in 2002 have highlighted the problems faced by Spanish women in reconciling work and family life, with many faced with a choice between having children or working. One consequence is a change in the pattern of childbirth, with people having fewer children and later. This change in the pattern of maternity also depends on other factors, such as the rising price of housing.
- 05 Nov 2002
Netherlands: Government's collapse leaves many controversial issues unresolved<#PDF_LINK>The Netherlands' three-party centre-right coalition government collapsed after only a few months in October 2002, following conflict within one of its member parties, the right-wing populist List Pim Fortuyn (LPF ). Until new elections are held in January 2003, no further decisions may be taken on controversial issues, leaving a number of the outgoing government's employment-related proposals unresolved.
- 05 Nov 2002
Spain: Negotiations begin over cutting industrial accident rate<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Spanish trade unions met the Minister of Labour to start a process aimed at reaching an agreement between unions, employers and the government on reducing the high rate of industrial accidents. The meeting came after a year with a large number of industrial accidents, particularly fatal ones.
- 05 Nov 2002
Denmark: Joint DA-LO proposal on Europe's future<#PDF_LINK>In September 2002, the Confederation of Danish Trade Unions (LO) and the Danish Employers' Confederation (DA) sent a joint paper to the Convention deliberating the future of the EU. The proposals call for a strengthening of the social dialogue and of the autonomy of the EU-level social partners to conclude agreements.
- 05 Nov 2002
Denmark: New pay system agreed for industry sector<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the social partners in Denmark's industry sector announced that they had agreed on a new pay system, known as Plus-pay. The system is based on a higher degree of flexibility than the current scheme, and will cover both workers paid on an hourly basis and salaried employees.
- 05 Nov 2002
Norway: Social partners discuss future cooperation on incomes policy<#PDF_LINK>In late October 2002, Norway's main social partner organisations met, at the government's invitation, to discuss future cooperation on incomes policy. At the meeting, the parties reached a general understanding about the need for continued cooperation and coordination to reduce the wage growth rate in the Norwegian economy, and agreed to set up a new forum to examine the future of wage formation and incomes policy.
- 04 Nov 2002
Sweden: Municipal Workers' Union cancels pay agreement one year early<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the Swedish Municipal Workers' Union decided to cancel the current three-year pay agreement for blue-collar employees of municipalities and city councils, one year early. This possibility had been included in the agreement. The accord thus expires in March 2003 and new negotiations will be held before then. The reason for cancelling the agreement is widespread discontent about wage developments among the union's 400,000 members.
- 04 Nov 2002
Luxembourg: First agreement signed by Objective Full Employment network and employers' association<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, the trade union-backed Objective Full Employment (OPE) network and the Luxembourg Horticultural Employers' Association signed a pioneering framework cooperation agreement, whereby unemployed workers will made available from an OPEpoolto the association's member companies, while being given training to ensure that they have a better chance of finding work in the sector.
- 04 Nov 2002
Germany: Ver.di announces wage demands for public sector and airlines<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Germany's Unified Service Sector Union (ver.di) issued its demands for the forthcoming negotiations in the public sector and in the airline industry. In the public sector, the union is demanding a wage increase of over 3% and the full harmonisation of east German pay levels with those in west Germany by 2007. This reflects ver.di's new approach of making wage claims which are closer to the expected level of settlement.
- 04 Nov 2002
Sweden: New Minister for Working Life appointed<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, Hans Karlsson, a former official of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), was appointed to the new position of Minister for Working Life issues in the Social Democrat government formed after the general election in September. One of the new Minister's main tasks will be to tackle Sweden's high rate of sickness absence.
- 04 Nov 2002
Germany: German gender pay gap is EU's largest<#PDF_LINK>An EU study published in October 2002 revealed that Europe's largest gaps in earnings between men and women are to be found in Germany. The average gross hourly earnings of German women are 77% of men's in the public sector and 73% in the private sector.
- 04 Nov 2002
Spain: Further industrial restructuring and job losses<#PDF_LINK>During autumn 2002, the process of industrial restructuring and workforce reductions has been accentuated in Spain, with major job losses and transfers of production announced in sectors such as telecommunications and motor manufacturing. Trade unions and public authorities are concerned about a number of transfers of production to central and eastern Europe, though other factors such as a fall in internal demand are also contributing to restructuring.
- 04 Nov 2002
Slovakia: New collective agreement at Slovak TV contributes to director's dismissal<#PDF_LINK>In August 2002, the Slovak parliament, on the recommendation of the Slovak Television Council, dismissed the director of Slovak Television (STV). The grounds were that he had signed a new collective agreement, which, according to the Council, awards STV management excessive redundancy pay entitlement, in the light of STV's financial losses and debts, as well as providing for high general wage increases.
- 04 Nov 2002
Austria: Dispute over railway restructuring<#PDF_LINK>In October 2002, engine drivers at Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) launched an overtime ban in protest against the company's current overtime practices and against restructuring measures planned by management, including a workforce reduction and the sell-off of a number of ÖBB's divisions. After several days of considerable disruption on the railways, the company made a number of concessions and the engine drivers resumed normal work.