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December 2002

• 20 Dec 2002
  Norway: Relationship between LO and Labour Party under debate

  The close relationship between the Norwegian Labour Party (DnA) and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) was on the agenda at DnA's national conference in November 2002. The formal ties between the two organisations are becoming increasingly controversial, and delegates at the conference stressed the need to develop less formal channels of communication and cooperation.

• 20 Dec 2002
  France: Debate over pension reform resumes

  Following a decision in October to phase out the early retirement scheme for civil servants, in late 2002 the French government set out its schedule for pension reform and issued various statements on the issue. It has developed two priority areas -equal treatment for allandfreedom of choice. Trade unions are challenging the process and fear that the government has already decided how pensions are to be reformed.

• 20 Dec 2002
  Greece: GSEE agrees organisational change

  At its 31st conference in November 2002, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) took a number of important decisions on organisational restructuring. There will be closer cooperation and, it is planned, eventual merger with the Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY), along with greater coordination between GSEE member organisations at regional, prefectural and sector level. The conference also adopted measures on economic independence and amended GSEE's statutes.

• 20 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Unions seek more influence for EWCs

  In November 2002, a major conference on European Works Councils (EWCs) took place in Aarhus, Denmark, organised by the European Trade Union Confederation and the main Danish national trade union organisations. The conference focused on making EWCs more effective and securing amendments to the EWCs Directive.

• 19 Dec 2002
  Hungary: Project seeks to strengthen autonomous social dialogue at sector level

  A project launched in June 2002 with the financial support of the EU's PHARE programme seeks to create an institutional structure for sectoral social dialogue in Hungary - an element virtually absent from the country's industrial relations system at present. The project, which includes support from a Danish expert team, aims to establish bipartite sector committees in 18 industries to provide appropriate fora for consultation on sectoral policies, facilitate collective bargaining and prepare the Hungarian social partners to play an effective role in the EU-level sectoral social dialogue.

• 19 Dec 2002
  Spain: Unions present proposals for bargaining in 2003

  In late 2002, the Spanish social partners are seeking to negotiate a central agreement to provide a framework for lower-level collective bargaining in 2003, as they did for 2002. The two main trade union confederations, CC.OO and UGT, presented their proposals for a new agreement in December. It appears that a major issue in 2003's collective bargaining will be wage revision clauses, which link pay increases to inflation. The government (supported by the Bank of Spain and the IMF) wants to abolish these clauses, on the grounds that they cause inflation, but the unions see them as essential for maintaining workers' purchasing power and domestic consumption.

• 19 Dec 2002
  Poland: Inter-union cooperation in multinationals

  Polish trade unions have problems in articulating the relations between different levels of their organisation (workplace, regional/branch and national), exacerbated by the political rift between the two major union organisations, NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ. In 2002, there have been a number of attempts by unions to formulate joint positions and pursue mutual interests, but these generally continue to be of a half-hearted and strictly ad hoc nature. However, the increasing presence of multinational companies in Poland has raised a need for closer cooperation between local union bodies in these multinationals' Polish operations, especially where there is a European Works Council in place. This article examines the state of inter-union cooperation and examines the case of an innovative joint trade union representation body at the Żywiec brewery group, owned by Heineken.

• 19 Dec 2002
  Spain: Agreement signed on modernisation and improvement of public administration

  In November 2002, the Spanish government and three trade unions (CC.OO, UGT and CSI-CSIF) signed an agreement onthe modernisation and improvement of the public administration. The two-year deal will introduce changes aimed at improving the services provided by the public administration and rationalising the structure of the workforce. It provides for above-inflation pay increases and the introduction of a 35-hour week, along with measures to promote employment stability.

• 19 Dec 2002
  Poland: New nationwide trade union centre established

  2002 has seen the creation of a new nationwide trade union organisation in Poland, alongside the two main existing centres, NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ. The Trade Unions Forum (FZZ) has its roots in a number of organisations which split from OPZZ, and now has 36 affiliates. The new body's membership exceeds 300,000, the threshold for representation on the national Tripartite Commission, and it is thus seeking a Commission seat alongside NSZZ Solidarność and OPZZ.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Sweden: New pay agreements reached in ICT sector

  In December 2002, employers and trade unions in the Swedish information and communications technology (ICT) sector signed new pay agreements, running until March 2004. Pay setting is left to local bargaining, but minimum paybill increases of 2.6%-28% apply if no agreement can be reached at this level. Some employers had earlier called for pay freezes or cuts, in the light of the problems facing the ICT sector.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Netherlands: Wage moderation and low productivity under debate

  After several years of prosperity, the Dutch economy seems to have run into difficulties in late 2002, falling behind the rest of the EU in indicators such as growth. To address the problems, there have been calls to revert to the familiar recipe of wage moderation but, increasingly, the focus appears to be on the lagging labour productivity and innovative power of the Dutch economy.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Denmark: LO makes proposal on resolving demarcation disputes

  In November 2002, the Confederation of Danish Trade Unions (LO) issued proposals for the resolution of demarcation disputes among its member unions, which are a persistent problem. It proposes a new negotiation and conciliation process between the unions in dispute, including the possibility of membership ballots among the workers concerned, plus heavy fines for unions failing to comply with decisions. This initiative is part of an overall modernisation of LO, but has met with differing responses from member unions.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Denmark: Debate over role of agreements and legislation in labour market regulation

  In autumn 2002, the presidency of Denmark's Economic Council published an analysis of the Danish model of labour market regulation. It found that regulation in the form of collective bargaining, which is a characteristic feature of the Danish industrial relations system, in under pressure - due, among other factors, to globalisation and the single European market. However, other studies find that the current bargaining-based model actually has a positive effect in Denmark

• 18 Dec 2002
  Austria: Largest union restructures and adopts new political strategy

  At its general assembly held in November 2002, Austria's largest trade union, the Union of Salaried Employees (GPA), finalised an internal restructuring process and made preparations for a planned merger with four other unions in 2005. The assembly also approved a new political strategy and a comprehensive gender mainstreaming plan.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Finland: SAK sets objectives for next government

  In late autumn 2002, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), presented its views on the goals that should be pursued by the new parliament and government to be elected in 2003. These proposals from Finland's largest trade union confederation seek to help the country adapt to the world of the future, through measures such as improvements in workers' skill levels.

• 18 Dec 2002
  Sweden: Blue-collar workers' pay falls behind

  In December 2002, the blue-collar Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO) presented a report on the development of its members' pay since 1994. One of the key findings is that wage differentials between white- and blue-collar workers, to the latter's disadvantage, have widened. In future collective bargaining, LO intends to make up for this lost decadein terms of wage increases.

• 18 Dec 2002
  EU Countries: Collective bargaining coverage and extension procedures

  Collective bargaining coverage and mechanisms which extend the provisions of collective agreements beyond the members of the signatory organisations are important factors which strongly affect the procedures and practices through which wages, hours and working conditions are determined, and thus also affect economic development. This EIRO comparative study provides quantitative data on collective bargaining coverage levels and gives an overview of legally based extension mechanisms in 20 European countries - the 15 EU Member States, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The study examines trends in bargaining coverage and changes in the regulation and practice of extension since 1990, as well as exploring the views of the industrial relations actors on these issues.

• 17 Dec 2002
  Germany: New study analyses development of employers' associations

  A survey of employers' associations in the German sawmill, woodworking/plastics and construction materials industries, published in 2002, finds that many associations have started to offer a specialOTmembership status, whereby companies are not covered by the industry-wide collective agreements concluded by the associations but still receive a full range of other membership services. This status was introduced as a response to some employers' opposition to some of the major provisions of industry-wide agreements. The study also finds that, while some member companies have decided to change their status, others maintain regular membership but breach collective agreements by applying terms and conditions of employment which deviate from the agreed standards.

• 17 Dec 2002
  Germany: Provisional results of 2002 works council elections

  The provisional results of Germany's 2002 works council elections - the first to be held since a major reform of the relevant legislation - indicate that the decline in the number of works councils has been turned around, and indicate greater stability and increasing numbers of works councillors. In comparison with the 1998 elections, the number of works councillors increased by 11%, the number of works councillors who are released from work full time nearly doubled, and the number of female works councillors increased by 5%.

• 17 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Commission issues annual joint employment report

  In mid-November 2002, the European Commission issued the draft of the year's joint Commission/Council employment report. The report looks at the labour market progress made by Member States over the past year, praising a number of achievements but also stating that structural weaknesses remain.

• 17 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Wide-ranging employment Council

  Ministers met in Brussels on 2-3 December 2002 for an EU employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs Council. In the area of employment and social policy, a range of issues were discussed, including working conditions for temporary agency workers, health and safety for self-employed workers and protection from electromagnetic fields and waves.

• 17 Dec 2002
  EU Level: EU-level social partners issue work programme for 2003-5

  At a social dialogue summit held on 28 November 2002, the central European-level social partners - UNICE/UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC - presented a joint work programme for the coming three years. The programme focuses on employment, enlargement and mobility, setting out a range of autonomous actions which the social partners intend to take by the end of 2005.

• 17 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Banking social partners conclude joint declaration on lifelong learning

  A joint declaration on lifelong learning was concluded by the EU-level social partners in the banking sector in December 2002. The document focuses on four key issues: defining skills; recognising and validating skills; principles, rights and responsibilities; and the need to ensure equal opportunities when formulating training policies.

• 17 Dec 2002
  Denmark: Strong growth in temporary agency work

  The number of temporary agency workers in Denmark has increased 10-fold in the decade up to 2002, and there now around 35,000 of them. Most work in the health sector and have reasonable employment conditions, while many are unskilled workers and office workers in other sectors, who often do not have the same good conditions. The issue is attracting growing interest from the social partners.

• 16 Dec 2002
  United Kingdom: Unions demand 'zero tolerance' of workplace violence

  In December 2002, a joint TUC, CBI and Health and Safety Executive seminar heard details of new trade union evidence of growing levels of violence at work in the UK. Against the background of union demands forzero toleranceof workplace violence, this feature examines the problem in the context of four particularly vulnerable occupations - nursing, teaching, public transport and retail.

• 16 Dec 2002
  Ireland: Equality Tribunal mediation facilitates quicker dispute resolution

  The informal mediation service provided by Ireland's Equality Tribunal since December 2000 has facilitated a more speedy resolution of equality disputes at work, compared with the traditional, and more formal, equality investigation route. A report on the Tribunal's first two years of mediation activity was published in December 2002.

• 16 Dec 2002
  Finland: New incomes policy agreement covers over 90% of wage earners

  In December 2002, the Finnish social partners formally signed a new two-year incomes policy agreement, which covers over 90% of wage earners. A few sectors which are strategically important for Finnish industry, such as seafaring and transport, rejected the deal. The cost effect of the of the agreed wage increases is 2.9% in 2003 and 2.2% in 2004.

• 09 Dec 2002
  Italy: Restructuring continues in banking

  In late 2002, the Italian banking sector is facing further restructuring and job losses. Economic forecasters estimate that there will be 6,000-7,000 redundancies over 2003-4, while trade unions are concerned that 15,000-20,000 jobs could go.

• 09 Dec 2002
  Italy: Cgil organises general strike

  On 18 October 2002, Cgil, one of Italy's three main trade union confederations, organised a one-day general strike against the government's economic policy and other recent developments. Estimates on the proportion of workers taking part in the strike varied from 30% to 58%..

• 09 Dec 2002
  Netherlands: Social partners and government reach 'social agreement' for 2003

  In November 2002, the Dutch government and social partners reached asocial agreementfor 2003, including a pay increase limit of 2.5% - the first such centrally agreed wage ceiling for a decade. Under the agreement, the government has released a sum of EUR 1 billion to meet the social partners' demands, including cuts in tax and social security contributions.

• 09 Dec 2002
  Italy: Cgil holds demonstration for development of South

  On 29-30 November 2002, Cgil, one of Italy's three main trade union confederations, organised a demonstration in Naples in favour of the development of the country's southern regions and against the government's recent 2003 budget law.

• 09 Dec 2002
  Italy: General strike held in metalworking

  On 15 November 2002, Italian metalworkers' trade unions organised a one-day general strike across the sector. The action focused on supporting negotiations over the restructuring plan and large-scale job losses announced at the Fiat auto group and at putting pressure on the government to draw up a national industrial policy, at a time when the Italian metalworking sector is experiencing major problems.

• 06 Dec 2002
  Slovakia: Unions protest against new government's social policy

  In November 2002, less than a month after the appointment of a new centre-right government in Slovakia, the Confederation of Trade Unions of the Slovak Republic started organising protest actions against its social policy, which is seen as a neo-liberal attack on the welfare state.

• 06 Dec 2002
  United Kingdom: Firefighters' strike called off

  On 2 December 2002, the UK's Fire Brigades Union called off an eight-day strike due to begin on 5 December and agreed to exploratory talks on settling the current pay dispute to be convened by the conciliation service Acas. We outline recent developments in the dispute.

• 06 Dec 2002
  Greece: Public servants to strike

  The Greek Confederation of Public Servants (ADEDY) has called strike action in December 2002 to express its opposition to the government's incomes policy and the low increases in pay for public servants included in the 2003 budget. ADEDY is calling for an increase in the minimum wage for public servants, claiming that their pay is among the lowest in the EU.

• 06 Dec 2002
  Ireland: Council seeks 'back to basics' approach in new national agreement

  In November 2002, two reports from Ireland's National Competitiveness Council, a body on which the social partners are represented, provided further backing for moderate wage increases in any new national social partnership agreement.

• 06 Dec 2002
  Ireland: 'Bullying' of shop stewards has negative impact

  In November 2002, the issue of trade union members placing undue pressure on their shop stewards was raised at the northern regional conference of SIPTU, Ireland's largest trade union. It was claimed that the union is losing top shop stewards due tobullyingby some members.

• 05 Dec 2002
  EU Countries: Travailleurs économiquement dépendants, droit du travail et relations industrielles

  Les limites entre l'emploi salarié et l'activité indépendante sont devenues, ces dernières années, de plus en floues dans certains secteurs, et ce dans un contexte de mutation des marchés de l'emploi et de propagation de pratiques telles que l'externalisation et la sous-traitance. Ce processus a suscité un intérêt de plus en plus vif pour les travailleurs économiquement dépendants- des travailleurs officiellement indépendants mais qui dépendent économiquement d'une seule source d'emploi - et, de la part de syndicats et d'autres organismes, des demandes visant en faveur d'une réglementation de cette catégorie d'emploi ainsi que d'une couverture sociale et législative de ces individus. La présente étude comparative de l'EURI examine la portée et les caractéristiques des relations de travail affectant ces travailleurs économiquement dépendantsen UE ainsi qu'en Norvège, et présente une vue d'ensemble du débat sur les incidences de ces évolutions. Elle analyse également l'impact des travailleurs économiquement dépendants sur les relations industrielles, et notamment sur la syndicalisation et les négociations collectives.

• 05 Dec 2002
  Poland: Government increases contributions to Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund

  In late 2002, the Polish government decided to increase employers' contributions to the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, which is used to cover the wage arrears due to the employees of bankrupt businesses. The most recent control performed by the Social Insurance Institution found that the Fund is not properly managed and is almost empty.

• 05 Dec 2002
  Slovakia: New collective agreement signed for civil servants

  In November 2002, a sectoral collective agreement for the Slovak civil service for 2003 was signed, the first such agreement to be concluded under a new Act on the Civil Service. The deal provides for wage increases, working time reductions, more paid annual leave and higher compulsory contributions to the social fund.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Belgium: Agreement on combating illegal working in the construction sector

  In October 2002, the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Construction Confederation employers' organisation signed a partnership agreement aimed at combating illegal working in the Belgian construction sector. The agreement provides for increased monitoring , an awareness-raising campaign, and the establishment of a working group to look into the matter. Trade unions, while in favour of combating illegal working, regretted that they had been excluded from the initiative, because the matters under consideration affect all workers in construction.

• 04 Dec 2002
  France: Return to calm at CFTC congress

  After clashes at its 1999 congress, the French Christian Workers' Confederation (CFTC) held its 48th national congress in November 2002 against a more peaceful backdrop. A new executive team headed by Jacques Voisin and Jacky Dintinger was elected, which is promoting the expansion of CFTC's presence, especially in small and medium-sized companies.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Poland: Protests continue at closed Ozarów cable plant

  In November 2002, a workers' blockade of a shut down cable manufacturing plant in Ozarów, Poland, was broken after more than six months by the factory's owner, Tele-Fonika. The company used a private security agency to clear access to the factory and allow machinery to be removed, and the police intervened when violence flared. However, it seems that the redundant workers' protests are continuing.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Hungary: MSZOSZ congress launches major structural reform

  At its fifth congress, held in November 2002, the National Association of Hungarian Trade Unions (MSZOSZ) sought to end a period of lack of strategic focus and decided to develop a new organisational structure which will enable it to tackle the challenges of forthcoming EU membership and the accompanying efforts to strengthen social dialogue in Hungary. MSZOSZ also elected a new leadership team and called for pay increases and working time cuts.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Hungary: Government supports working time reduction

  In November 2002, the Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Medgyessy, announced that the government supports the demands of trade unions to reduce statutory normal weekly working time gradually from 40 to 38 hours in the current parliamentary term. Negotiations over working time cuts will now be held in the tripartite National Interest Reconciliation Council, despite employers' misgivings.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Belgium: Pay norm under debate

  In late 2002, the Belgian social partners are discussing a new intersectoral agreement for 2003-4. The maximum margins for growth in wage costs over the next two years are central to the talks. In early November, the Central Economic Council published its technical report providing an indication of the pay norm, which it puts at 5.1%. This procedure, which is particularly complicated on this occasion, has relaunched debate on Belgium's pay norm system.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Hungary: Dispute over wage cuts and privatisation at Dunaferr steel mill

  In November 2002, the Hungarian government announced plans for the privatisation of the Dunaferr steel mill, the country's largest remaining state-owned manufacturing firm. At the same time, Dunaferr management proposed severe wage cuts for the coming year. Trade unions at the company object to both plans and have threatened a strike.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Portugal: Banking sector trade unions to form federation

  In late 2002, the process of creating a national federation of the three Portuguese bank workers' trade unions affiliated to the UGT confederation is nearly complete. The new federation will comprise regional banking unions from the north, centre and south of the country, and represents an attempt by the unions to strengthen their negotiating capacity in the light of the concentration of firms within the sector.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Germany: New law passed on temporary agency work

  In November 2002, the German parliament passed a package of laws to implement the recent proposals of the Hartz Commission on increased flexibility of the labour market. A key element in the reform is new measures to promote an expansion of temporary agency work in order to create new jobs. Temporary agency workers will be entitled to equal pay with permanent workers in user companies, and collective bargaining over their terms and conditions will be promoted, while publicly-funded personnel service agencies will be created throughout the country to employ unemployed people and hire them out on a short-term basis.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Austria: Large retailers seek extension of shop opening hours

  In November 2002, Austria's association of large retailers and chain stores called for an extension of shop opening hours from the current legal maximum of 66 hours per week to 78 hours. However, the large retailers' demands seem unlikely to be met, given opposition from political parties, the social partners and even the majority of small and medium-sized retailers.

• 04 Dec 2002
  France: Agreement reached following action in road haulage

  Difficult negotiations between trade unions and employers' associations in the French road haulage industry began in October 2002 over a new sectoral collective agreement on pay and conditions. The prospect of a blockade of the entire road network similar to that of 1996, if the talks failed, hung over the negotiations. Ultimately, an agreement was reached on 24 November, providing for a pay increase 14% over three years, though it was not signed by the CFDT and CGT unions, which called for roadblocks to be set up. These were lifted on 25 November, but CFDT and CGT plan to continue their action in other forms.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Denmark: Employment levels start to fall

  Quarterly figures published by Danmarks Statistik in November 2002 show a large fall in employment in Denmark, while the unemployment rate, which has stood at around 5% for nearly five years, is now rising again. The fall in employment has contradicted the government's expectations and caused surprise in trade union circles.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Denmark: Mass redundancies in telecommunications

  In November 2002, the management of Orange, the French-owned mobile telephone company, announced that it was to make redundant about 400 employees in its Danish division. The job losses will bring the number of recent redundancies in Denmark's telecommunications sector to around 1,000.

• 04 Dec 2002
  Poland: Wroclaw hospital employees protest over unpaid wages

  In November 2002, a number of employees of the debt-ridden Rydygier hospital in Wroclaw, Poland, launched a hunger strike aimed at obtaining the payment of wages, which had not been paid since September. The hunger strike was followed by high-profile street protests. Politicians at the regional and national level stepped in to try to calm the conflict, but the hunger strike has continued.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Spain: Government repeals most of its unemployment benefit reform

  In October 2002, only five months after introducing a major reform of unemployment benefit (without agreement with the trade unions), the Spanish government decided to repeal most of the changes that it had made, faced with pressure from the unions and public unpopularity.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Italy: Job-sharing introduced at Ferrero

  In October 2002, a new company agreement was signed by trade unions and management at the Italian confectionery group, Ferrero. The agreement contains a number of innovations, notably the experimental introduction of job-sharing, variable pay and the future establishment of new joint bodies.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Germany: DGB proposes integrated EU economic and social policy

  In October 2002, the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) submitted a statement to the European Convention which is considering the future structure of the EU. It proposes a newsocial contractfor the EU, involving an integrated economic and social policy which seeks to coordinate policies and strengthen social and participatory aspects.

• 03 Dec 2002
  United Kingdom: CBI renews attack on draft temporary agency workers Directive

  In November 2002, coinciding with the European Parliament's vote on the proposal for an EU Directive on the working conditions of temporary agency workers, the CBI, the main UK employers' organisation, issued a strong attack on the proposed measure which it argues would threaten employment opportunities for unemployed people.

• 03 Dec 2002
  United Kingdom: Government consults on extension to Working Time Regulations

  On 31 October 2002, the UK government initiated a three-month consultation exercise on draft Regulations to extend the provisions of the Working Time Regulations to workers in sectors currently excluded from the legislation, as required by EU law.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Spain: Parliament rejects popular legislative initiative on employment stability and safety

  In November 2002, the Spanish parliament decided not to debate as a draft law apopular legislative initiativepromoted by the UGT trade union confederation. The initiative sought to introduce new measures to improve stability and safety in employment, but the opposition of the governing People's Party's parliamentary majority ensured its rejection.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Sweden: Unions and employers' organisations discuss mergers

  In November 2002, the boards of the two main employers' organisations in the Swedish municipality and city council sector decided unanimously to propose a merger. Meanwhile, two large trade unions in the industry sector are examining the possibility of a future merger - the latest in a series of potential mergers involving the member unions of the blue-collar LO confederation.

• 03 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Parliament proposes amendments to draft temporary agency work Directive

  At its plenary session on 20-21 November 2002, the European Parliament gave a first reading to the European Commission's proposal for a Directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers. It proposed a range of amendments to the proposal, in areas including the principle of non-discrimination against agency workers.

• 03 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Agreement reached on noise Directive

  In November 2002, a European Parliament/Council of Ministers conciliation committee reached political agreement on the text of a new Directive limiting noise at the workplace. The text should be formally adopted during December 2002.

• 03 Dec 2002
  EU Level: Sectoral social dialogue developments round-up

  A range of developments took place during November 2002 within the context of the European-level sectoral social dialogue, including a review of progress in the telecommunications sector, a joint statement on lifelong learning in the banking sector and preparatory work on establishing dialogue in the sport sector.

• 03 Dec 2002
  France: Job losses planned at Air Lib

  Air Lib, France's second-largest airline, is in financial difficulties in late 2002 and management has announced a rescue plan involving 500 job losses, to trade union opposition. Despite a decision by the Ministry of Transport to extend the company's operating licence and to defer debt repayment to January 2003, concerns remain over the company's future as a viable business.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Finland: Negotiations interrupted in merchant shipping

  Negotiations over a new collective agreement for the Finnish merchant shipping sector were interrupted in November 2002 due to a disagreement concerning the use of foreign labour. The employers are seeking a legislative amendment, opposed by the trade union, which would allow the use of foreign labour on Finnish vessels.

• 03 Dec 2002
  Finland: Incomes policy agreement applied in metalworking

  In November 2002, a collective agreement applying the new national incomes policy agreement for 2003-4 was concluded in the Finnish metalworking sector. The agreement sets the minimum wage increase at 2.6% in 2003 and at 1.8% in 2004. The deal is likely to be followed by agreements in other sectors .

• 03 Dec 2002
  Norway: Smoking ban proposed to protect employees in bars and restaurants

  In November 2002, the Minister of Health presented a government proposal for a total ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in Norway. Stricter legislative measures to combat passive smoking in bars and restaurants have long been an important priority for trade unions in the catering sector. If approved by parliament, the ban will come into effect on 1 January 2004.

• 02 Dec 2002
  France: CES adopts opinion on future of EU social policy

  In October 2002, France's Economic and Social Council (CES) adopted an opinion entitledWhat social competences will there be and who will be the actors in an enlarged EU. This report, endorsed by all the groups and organisations represented in the CES, makes very detailed proposals for bolstering theEuropean social modeland enshrining the position and role of the European-level social partners, at a time when the European Convention is drafting a new EU treaty or constitution.

• 02 Dec 2002
  EU Countries: Flexible Beschäftigungsverhältnisse, Arbeitsqualität und -beziehungen

  Der Anteil flexibler Beschäftigungsverhältnisse (insbesondere befristete Arbeitsverträge, Leiharbeit sowie Gelegenheits- oder Saisonarbeit) an der Beschäftigung in weiten Teilen Westeuropas wird immer höher. In dieser Vergleichsstudie der EIRO werden Ausmaß und Entwicklung dieser Beschäftigungsform sowie deren Regulierung untersucht, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf Tarifverhandlungen und der Umsetzung der EU-Richtlinie von 1999 über befristete Arbeitsverhältnisse liegt. Anschließend werden die möglichen Auswirkungen flexibler Beschäftigungsverhältnisse auf die Qualität des Arbeitslebens in Bezug auf die Arbeitsbedingungen (z. B. Entlohnung und deren Bedingungen, Karrierechancen, Gesundheit und Sicherheit sowie Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung) sowie die allgemeine Position von Arbeitnehmern auf dem Arbeitsmarkt und die Zukunftsaussichten beleuchtet (z. B. Zeiträume mit und ohne Beschäftigung, soziale Sicherheit und Einkommen). Des Weiteren werden in der Studie die Ansichten der Sozialpartner zu diesem Thema erörtert.

• 02 Dec 2002
  EU Countries: Emploi non permanent, qualité du travail et relations industrielles

  L’emploi non permanent (notamment les contrats à durée déterminée, le travail intérimaire et le travail occasionnel ou saisonnier) représente une proportion de plus en plus importante de l’emploi dans la plupart des pays d’Europe de l’ouest. Cette étude comparative de l’EIRO examine l’ampleur et le développement de cette forme d’emploi et sa réglementation, en s’intéressant en particulier à la négociation collective et à la mise en œuvre de la Directive de 1999 de l’UE sur le travail à durée déterminée. Elle étudie ensuite les conséquences possibles du travail non permanent sur la qualité de la vie professionnelle en termes de conditions de travail (par exemple, les salaires et les conditions de travail, les possibilités d’évolution de carrière, la santé et la sécurité, la participation des travailleurs) ainsi que la situation des travailleurs et leurs perspectives sur le marché du travail en général (par exemple, les périodes d’emploi/ de chômage, la sécurité sociale, les revenus). L’étude met également en évidence l’opinion des partenaires sociaux sur cette question.