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May 2004

• 21 May 2004
  EU Countries: Trade union membership 1993-2003

  This report examines trade union membership trends in 23 EU Member States, two candidate countries and Norway over the 1993-2003 period. It looks at the number of trade union members, the relative size of the main organisations and the breakdown of membership by gender, as well as the problems of assessing union density.

• 21 May 2004
  Slovakia: New civil service collective agreement brings changes

  At the end of 2003, a new sectoral collective agreement was signed for the Slovak civil service. The deal includes higher wage rates, more resources for social funds and the option for employers to make supplementary pension insurance contributions on behalf of their employees .

• 19 May 2004
  Luxembourg: 2003 Annual Review for Luxembourg

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Luxembourg.

• 19 May 2004
  Hungary: 2003 Annual Review for Hungary

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Hungary.

• 19 May 2004
  Italy: 2003 Annual Review for Italy

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Italy.

• 18 May 2004
  Greece: 2003 Annual Review for Greece

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Greece.

• 18 May 2004
  Spain: 2003 Annual Review for Spain

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Spain.

• 18 May 2004
  Estonia: 2003 Annual Review for Estonia

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Estonia.

• 18 May 2004
  EU Countries: Plans pour l’égalité professionnelle entre les femmes et les hommes

  Cette étude comparative analyse la question des plans d’entreprise visant à parvenir à une plus grande égalité entre les femmes et les hommes. Portant sur l’Union européenne actuelle, la Norvège et un certain nombre de nouveaux États membres rejoignant l’UE en 2004, elle examine le cadre réglementaire de ces plans ainsi que leur importance et leur nature dans la pratique. L’étude révèle que la question est rarement traitée dans le cadre de la négociation collective au-delà du niveau de l’entreprise. La législation sur les plans pour l’égalité professionnelle est peu fréquente dans le secteur privé, mais dans une certaine mesure plus courante dans le secteur public. Dans la pratique, les plans pour l’égalité entre les hommes et les femmes sont rares, au moins dans le secteur privé, dans la plupart des pays (bien qu'il y ait peu de données disponibles sur ce point), néanmoins ils sont sans doute plus fréquents dans les deux pays disposant d’une législation rendant de tels plans obligatoires - la Finlande et la Suède. Le contenu des plans existants est assez similaire dans les pays examinés.

• 18 May 2004
  EU Countries: Pläne für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter am Arbeitsplatz

  Diese Vergleichsstudie analysiert Pläne für den Arbeitsplatz, die darauf abzielen, eine verbesserte Gleichstellung zwischen Männern und Frauen zu erreichen. Bei dieser Studie liegt das Augenmerk auf der gegenwärtigen Europäischen Union, Norwegen und einer Reihe neuer Mitgliedstaaten, die der EU im Jahre 2004 beitreten. Dabei werden zum einen der Rechtsrahmen für solche Pläne und zum anderen der Umfang und die Art von Plänen für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter untersucht, die bereits umgesetzt werden. In der Studie wird festgestellt, dass dieses Thema bei Tarifverhandlungen oberhalb der Unternehmensebene nur selten behandelt wird und dass Rechtsvorschriften zu Plänen für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter am Arbeitsplatz im privaten Sektor nur selten, im öffentlichen Sektor jedoch etwas häufiger vorhanden sind. In der Praxis sind Pläne für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter in den meisten Ländern, zumindest im privaten Sektor, eher selten (obwohl diesbezüglich nur wenige Daten vorliegen) und haben wohl in den beiden Ländern, in denen die Gesetzgebung solche Pläne vorschreibt - Finnland und Schweden - die größte Bedeutung. Sind solche Pläne vorhanden, ähneln sich die Inhalte dieser Pläne in den untersuchten Ländern häufig.

• 17 May 2004
  Denmark: 2003 Annual Review for Denmark

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Denmark.

• 17 May 2004
  Belgium: 2003 Annual Review for Belgium

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Belgium.

• 17 May 2004
  Bulgaria: 2003 Annual Review for Bulgaria

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Bulgaria.

• 17 May 2004
  Norway: 2003 Annual Review for Norway

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Norway.

• 14 May 2004
  Malta: 2003 Annual Review for Malta

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Malta.

• 14 May 2004
  Cyprus: 2003 Annual Review for Cyprus

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Cyprus.

• 14 May 2004
  Ireland: 2003 Annual Review for Ireland

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Ireland.

• 13 May 2004
  Germany: 2003 Annual Review for Germany

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Germany.

• 13 May 2004
  Austria: 2003 Annual Review for Austria

  This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in Austria.

• 13 May 2004
  United Kingdom: 2003 Annual Review for the UK

  This record reviews the main industrial relations developments in the UK during 2003.

• 12 May 2004
  Latvia: Ambulance drivers threaten strike

  In mid-April 2004, Latvian ambulance drivers made demands for improved working conditions and pay, supported by their trade unions, and threatened a strike if their claims are not met.

• 12 May 2004
  Netherlands: KLM senior managers forgo controversial bonuses

  In April 2004, the members of the management board of KLM waived bonuses offered to them in the run-up to the Dutch airline's merger with Air France, under pressure from trade unions and the government. During the current agreed national wage freeze, increases in senior management remuneration are controversial, with the VNO-NCW employers' organisation joining the unions in supporting top pay moderation and the government taking the first steps towards regulation.

• 12 May 2004
  Norway: Unions plan merger

  In April 2004, the Norwegian Union of Graphical Workers (NGF) and the Norwegian United Federation of Trade Unions (Fellesforbundet) concluded an agreement on a possible merger. If the two unions’ decision-making bodies give their consent to the merger, NGF (12,000 members) will be incorporated into Fellesforbundet (138,000 members) in January 2006.

• 12 May 2004
  Norway: Concern raised over childbirth-related discrimination

  In its annual report for 2003, the Norwegian Gender Equality Ombud highlights an increasing number of applications for assistance from women claiming discrimination at work as a result of pregnancy or maternity leave. The Ombud will monitor developments in this area closely in future.

• 11 May 2004
  Bulgaria: Labour courts under debate

  In March 2004, there were indications from the Bulgarian government that a system of specialised labour courts may become a reality after many years of debate. The Ministry of Justice is due to complete an analysis of the resources required by the end of 2004.

• 11 May 2004
  Denmark: Social partners criticise plans to decentralise measures for unemployed

  In April 2004, the Danish government proposed, as part of a wider administrative reform, that responsibility for measures to get unemployed people back into work should be devolved to municipal authorities. The proposal has been heavily criticised by the social partners.

• 11 May 2004
  Slovenia: New pay policy agreement for private sector expected soon

  In April 2004, all Slovenian employers' organisations and ZSSS, the country's largest trade union confederation, expressed their approval of a draft tripartite agreement on pay policy for the private sector, covering 2004-5. However, smaller union confederations are not satisfied with the proposed agreement and will either not sign it or seek further negotiations. The government is still assessing the macroeconomic consequences of the agreement.

• 11 May 2004
  Germany: Two-thirds of firms 'reject training levy'

  In April 2004, the Cologne Institute for Business Research (IW) published the results of a survey indicating that many employers are strongly opposed to a levy on companies not hiring enough apprentices, planned by the German government. According to the survey findings, the training levy is viewed negatively by a majority of firms in all sectors, and by 68% of companies overall.

• 11 May 2004
  Italy: Agreement to fight irregular labour signed in building sector

  In April 2004, Italian social security institutes and the social partners in the building sector signed an agreement providing for the certification of companies' correct payment of social security contributions. This certificate, which will be obligatory for all companies wanting to take part in public and private tenders for building work, aims to combat irregular and undeclared employment.

• 11 May 2004
  Italy: New national agreement signed for garment and textiles sector

  In April 2004, a new national collective agreement was signed for Italy's garment and textiles sector, which employs 650,000 workers. The deal provides for: an average monthly pay increase of EUR 87 over two years; the creation of new joint bodies; improved information and consultation rights; rules on using new forms of employment; and improved maternity pay.

• 11 May 2004
  Italy: Solidarity agreement signed in Lecco

  In March 2004, employers' organisations and trade unions in the province of Lecco in Northern Italy signed an innovative agreement with a local foundation, aimed at promoting social solidarity initiatives. Workers and companies will contribute, on a voluntary basis, to a new fund to finance local solidarity measures organised by the foundation and chosen by unions and employers' organisations.

• 11 May 2004
  Spain: Constitutional Court rules on workplace elections in small companies

  In April 2004, the Spanish Constitutional Court cleared up an area of uncertainty by ruling that representative trade unions may call workplace elections of employee representatives at companies with six to 10 employees.

• 11 May 2004
  Spain: Trade unions take positive view of new government

  Trade unions have responded positively to Spain's new Socialist government, which took office in April 2004. The unions are especially pleased with the new administration's express commitment to social dialogue and its social policy programme.

• 11 May 2004
  Spain: Unemployment and inflation rising

  Despite a high economic growth rate, Spain's two-year downward trend in unemployment came to an end in the first quarter of 2004. At the same time, the active population is increasing due to immigration and more women joining the labour market. Over 2002-4, the purchasing power of wages has fallen due to inflation.

• 11 May 2004
  Romania: Pay disputes in education sector

  Three trade union federations representing workers in the Romanian education system started protest actions in April 2004. Their main demands are for increases in salaries and a narrowing in pay differentials between different categories of staff.

• 11 May 2004
  Belgium: Unions criticise Electrabel prices

  Although liberalisation of the electricity market got under way in Belgium in July 2003, the established operator, Electrabel, has been slow to alter its pricing policy. The trade unions have joined the energy minister and consumer organisation in criticising this position. Electrabel announced in April 2004 the first changes to pricing, which are to come into effect from July.

• 11 May 2004
  France: Court rules in favour of unemployed people hit by benefit cuts

  In April 2004, the Marseille local court ruled in favour of 35 unemployed people whose benefits from the UNEDIC insurance scheme had been cut or even stopped at the beginning of 2004 as a result of an agreement signed by the social partners in 2002. Their full entitlement is to be restored after an intervention by the authorities.

• 11 May 2004
  Latvia: EU enlargement may leads to loss of specialist workers

  Although the 15 oldEU Member States have placed temporary restrictions on the free movement of labour from the new Member States that joined the Union in May 2004, there are signs that they are seeking to attract specialist workers from these countries. In Latvia, active recruitment of such people to work in western Europe has occurred in science, the computer industry and, increasingly, medicine. Poor pay and working conditions in Latvia seem to be promoting this brain drain.

• 10 May 2004
  Germany: Major protests against government's social cutbacks

  On 3 April 2004, around 500,000 people took part in demonstrations - called by the DGB trade union confederation, among other groups - to protest against the red-GreenGerman government's policy of social cutbacks, and against proposals made by the conservative and liberal opposition parties for further cuts in the social benefit system.

• 10 May 2004
  Germany: Trade union membership losses increased in 2003

  According to the latest figures from the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the membership of its affiliated trade unions dropped by 337,000 (4.4%) in 2003 to stand at 7.4 million. Not only has membership continued to decline for over 10 years but losses have accelerated. In 2002, DGB lost 199,000 members (2.5%).

• 10 May 2004
  EU Level: Accidents at work decreasing

  In April 2004, Eurostat published a report analysing data on the incidence of serious accidents at work in the EU over the period 1994-2002 and concluded that there is a general downwards trend. However, this is not the case for all Member States.

• 10 May 2004
  Poland: Unrest at Polish National Railways

  During 2003 and the early months of 2004, there has been considerable industrial relations tension at Polish National Railways (PKP). On several occasions, disputes about the restructuring of regional rail services have brought trade unions close to calling a sector-wide general strike. In May 2004, it seems unlikely that the full subsidies promised for regional services will be paid out, entailing the closure of some services and setting off a fresh wave of union protests.

• 10 May 2004
  Malta: Workforce reduction agreed to save Public Broadcasting Services

  In April 2004, an agreement on the restructuring of Malta's Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) was reached by the government, company management and the General Workers' Union. In a bid to make the PBS viable, its workforce will be reduced by two-thirds through early retirement and the redeployment of surplus staff.

• 10 May 2004
  Ireland: Drug testing proposed for rail staff

  Legislation providing for random testing for intoxicants is being proposed for Irish rail workers in spring 2004, though trade unions believe that it is unconstitutional. Such testing is already in place for military personnel and workers employed by Dublin’s new tram system, LUAS.

• 10 May 2004
  Finland: Increase in foreign temporary agency workers due to EU enlargement

  Since 1 May 2004, temporary employment agencies from the new EU Member States have been free to offer their services in Finland. The number of Estonian agency workers in particular is likely to increase as a result. Finnish social partner organisations have reacted to this prospect by introducing new measures for controlling the use of foreign labour.

• 10 May 2004
  Greece: GSEE holds 24-hour nationwide strike

  On 31 March 2004, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) held a 24-hour nationwide general strike in support of its demands for a new National General Collective Agreement, which include an 8% pay rise and working time cuts.

• 10 May 2004
  Estonia: Parliament passes Gender Equality Act

  After more than three years of discussions, the Estonian parliament ratified a Gender Equality Act in April 2004. The aim of the new legislation is to reduce gender-based discrimination in all areas of life, including the workplace. The Gender Equality Act obliges authorities and employers to promote equality between men and women, thus strengthening the legislative basis for promoting gender equality.

• 10 May 2004
  Estonia: Dispute over civil service pay

  In April 2004, negotiations over civil service pay between the Estonian government and the EAKL trade union confederation failed to produce significant results, with the government rejecting union demands for a 20% increase for lower-paid groups. Union members subsequently picketed government offices in protest. Meanwhile, further disagreement has broken out over government plans to restructure the civil service pay system.

• 10 May 2004
  Austria: New service regulations agreed for railway employees

  In April 2004, the management of the state-owned Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and the GdE trade union agreed new service regulations for the employment of railworkers, which will bring about significant cost savings. The government has accepted the agreement, since its demand to abolish a series of expensive company-specific regulations has been met.

• 10 May 2004
  United Kingdom: Impasse over retirement age policy reported

  Newspaper reports in April 2004 suggested that disagreements within the UK government are holding up proposals for age discrimination legislation. At issue is the scope for employers to insist on mandatory retirement ages for their employees.

• 10 May 2004
  EU Level: Council adopts Directive on protection against exposure to electromagnetic fields

  A new EU health and safety Directive, protecting workers against exposure to electromagnetic fields, was adopted in April 2004. This is the third so-called physical agentsDirective.

• 10 May 2004
  Sweden: Blue-collar unions continue to lose members

  In 2003, the membership of Sweden's blue-collar LO trade union confederation fell, continuing the trend of recent years. It lost about 1.4% of its members, with only the Commercial Employees' Union, which organises in the services sector, registering an increase. SACO, which groups professional workers' unions, grew by 3.5% in 2002, while the membership of the white-collar TCO confederation remained stable.

• 10 May 2004
  France: Action on health at work to be stepped up

  With statistics on work-related accidents and occupational illnesses still a cause for concern in France, in April 2004 the Higher Council for the Prevention of Occupational Risks agreed new measures to promote prevention, including a stronger role for collective bargaining. Furthermore, the government has announced that a health at work initiative is to be submitted to the social partners in autumn 2004.

• 04 May 2004
  Spain: Work organisation and working time flexibility examined

  Research published in early 2004 by the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (CC.OO) sheds light on current patterns of work organisation and the flexible management of working time in Spanish companies. It finds that new forms of work organisation are not widely disseminated, except in larger firms, and the traditional Tayloristmodel is still dominant. However, working hours have increasingly been made more flexible though methods such as flexi-time and working time accounts.

• 04 May 2004
  Slovenia: Government proposes tax changes to ease bargaining deadlock

  In spring 2004, negotiations over new sectoral pay agreements are deadlocked in Slovenia, with trade unions taking industrial action in support of demands for increased wages for the lowest-paid workers. The government has attempted to ease the situation by offering (in addition to raising the level of general income tax relief) to increase the monthly pay threshold above which employers have to pay a special payroll tax, the tax on paid-out pay, on their employees' wages. This tax cut for employers should make it possible for them to increase employees' starting take-home pay. However, the government has made this offer to the social partners conditional on them concluding a new private sector pay policy agreement, including adjustment of pay to inflation.

• 04 May 2004
  Slovakia: Pension reform finally a reality

  A new pension insurance system came into force in Slovakia on 1 January 2004. The system of payment of contributions to old-age pension insurance, invalidity insurance and insurance against the death of the family breadwinnerhas been changed. Other reforms include a new benefit calculation system, higher old-age pensions and benefits, and early retirement.

• 04 May 2004
  Romania: Legislation on maternity protection revised

  March 2004 saw the adoption of the latest in a series of measures revising Romania's system of leave and benefits for pregnant women and new mothers. The aim is to provide better protection for women during maternity and child raising, but some of the changes benefit only women earning below average wages. The context for the various amendments is an attempt to address the country's falling birth rate.

• 04 May 2004
  Poland: 'Social package' agreed for Polish Steelworks privatisation

  The sale of Polish Steelworks (Poland's largest steel producer) to the Indian-based LNM Group was completed in March 2004, after the new owners reached agreement with trade unions over a social packageto protect the interests of the company's 16,000 staff. No such provisions had been included in the original privatisation agreement between LNM and the government. The deal includes employment guarantees and a privatisation bonusfor all employees.

• 01 May 2004
  Latvia: State Labour Inspectorate examined

  Latvia's State Labour Inspectorate (VDI) is the main institution responsible for supervision and monitoring of the implementation of employment and health and safety law. This article examines the Inspectorate's legal basis, activities and programme for 2004. The number of infringements of regulations recorded by the VDI is falling and the vast majority of the problems identified are rectified swiftly. The number of submissions and complaints made by employees to the VDI is rising, which indicates that trust in the institution is growing.

• 01 May 2004
  Norway: 2004 bargaining round progresses

  During Norway's spring 2004 collective bargaining round, sectoral agreements are being renegotiated across the economy. The first deal was reached in the trend-setting manufacturing industry in early April, following the government’s pledge to introduce a statutory right to an occupational pension for all workers, thus resolving a key issue in the negotiations. The parties in manufacturing also agreed on general hourly pay increase of NOK 1.00, which was subsequently adopted in a number of other private sector agreements. However, industrial action has broken out in wholesale companies.

• 01 May 2004
  Italy: Jobs under threat as Alitalia restructures

  In October 2003, the board of the Italian airline Alitalia approved an industrial plan for 2004-6 which envisaged 2,700 redundancies. The plan triggered a fierce conflict with the trade unions and led, on 19 January 2004, to a strike throughout Alitalia. The dispute between the management and the unions also involved the government, which declared itself willing to intervene to provide support measures for workers if job cuts were made. At the end of February 2004, the managing director of Alitalia resigned. The new chief executive resumed talks with the unions and revised the business plan, which no longer centred on cost cutting, but on boosting investments. Finally, in April, the government announced the imminent issue of a legislative decree to assist the entire air transport industry.

• 01 May 2004
  Netherlands: Government proposes simplification of working time legislation

  As part of a broader process of deregulation, in December 2003 the Dutch government issued proposals to simplify the Working Hours Act, which have been subject to considerable debate in the early months of 2004. Meanwhile, the European Commission is consulting on a possible revision of the EU working time Directive, including possible changes to reflect European Court of Justice rulings that periods of inactivity during time spent on call should be counted as working time. The Dutch government will be including the plans for revision of the Directive in its own legislative proposals, and has also responded to the European Commission's consultations. The social partners are divided over the government’s plans.

• 01 May 2004
  France: Collective bargaining reform law passed

  In April 2004, the French parliament passed a law on the reform of collective bargaining. This legislation aims to give a new dynamism to bargaining by introducing two major innovations: collective agreements must essentially have the support of (or not be opposed by) a majority of representative trade unions or of unions representing a majority of employees, in order to be valid; while the previous hierarchyof collectively agreed norms is changed, with the possibility of company-level agreements departing from sector-level agreements.

• 01 May 2004
  France: Employees concerned over Sanofi Synthélabo takeover bid for Aventis

  During the early months of 2004, talks have been taking place between some of the world's largest pharmaceuticals groups in the wake of a takeover bid by the French-based Sanofi Synthélabo for its rival Aventis. A stock market, media and legal struggle has ensued. No matter what the outcome, the workforces of the companies concerned are very concerned. Successive restructuring and reorganisation initiatives have already hit jobs hard at the two firms.