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October 2004

• 29 Oct 2004
  Italy: Innovative agreement signed for industrial managers

  An important deal on the renewal of the national collective agreement for Italy's 82,000 industrial managers was reached in September 2004 by the Confindustria employers' confederation and the Federmanager managers' association. The accord is highly innovative and introduces significant changes with regard to pay, welfare provision and supplementary pension coverage. The signatories view the deal as a first step towards a new model of industrial relations for managers.

• 29 Oct 2004
  Norway: Impact of EEA on industrial relations assessed

  A trade union-commissioned reported published in September 2004 examines the consequences of 10 years of membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) for Norwegian industrial relations, working life and the role of the trade union movement. The study concludes that on the whole the effects of the EEA have been positive, but that it has, to some degree, also contributed to reducing the democratic accountability of Norwegian working life policies. The trade unions have not been able to sufficiently compensate for this deficit through their participation in European-level organisations and social dialogue, it is argued.

• 29 Oct 2004
  Norway: Childcare 'inhibits women’s career development'

  Norwegian women with childcare responsibilities have a lower average hourly wage than women without children, according to a report published in September 2004. Explanations for this wage gap are numerous, but evidence cited in the study hints at a structural problem, in which direct discrimination is but one factor. Moreover, childcare responsibility, and related absence from work, is found to be an impediment to career development.

• 29 Oct 2004
  Greece: First collective agreement signed at Cosmote

  In August 2004, an enterprise-level collective agreement was signed at Cosmote, a Greek mobile telephone provider. The agreement is a first for both the company and the sector. As well as substantial pay rises, the Cosmote deal includes a number of innovative and advanced provisions on matters such as the reconciliation of work and family life, and the establishment of a joint consultation committee.

• 28 Oct 2004
  Finland: Study finds that chronic unemployment remains widespread

  According to a study published in summer 2004, nearly half of unemployed people in Finland have remained outside the open labour market for over two years. This, the study concludes, cannot be explained by individual background variables used in conventional statistics, or as being a heritage of the early 1990s recession. Instead, rapid structural changes in labour demand in the course of the 1990s appears to have caused the problem. The skills of many people have become outdated while social exclusion and discouragement have probably prevented many from finding work. Moreover, the level of labour demand itself seems to have diminished. This article summarises the study's findings and the views of the social partners and government.

• 28 Oct 2004
  Denmark: Employees 'support free choice' in collective agreements

  Research unveiled in autumn 2004 indicates that majority of Danish employees want to have a higher degree of freedom of choice within the framework set by collective agreements. This would involve individuals choosing how to use a specific proportion of the total agreed paybill, for example for higher wages, higher pension contributions or more time off. Such schemes already exist under a number of collective agreements.

• 28 Oct 2004
  Denmark: Tripartite committee to examine training and lifelong learning

  In autumn 2004, the Danish government and social partners set up a committee which, over the next 12 months, will undertake a thorough review of current provision in the field of adult and continuing vocational training. In August, the Prime Minister had invited the social partners to talks about how to upgrade the competences of Danish workers in order to deal with the effects of globalisation.

• 27 Oct 2004
  EU Countries: Industrial relations in the retail sector

  Retail is a highly important sector, employing some 9% of the EU's workforce. Around 60% of retail workers are women, and there is also a high proportion of young and poorly-qualified workers. Pay is relatively low and there are high levels of part-time work and weekend working. The industry is undergoing major structural change, with processes of concentration and diversification, and pressures for the restructuring, deregulation and reduction of employment. This study outlines the structure of the retail sector, the volume and structure of employment and the employment conditions of its workers, before going on to examine social partner organisation, collective bargaining and the current key issues in industrial relations.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Germany: IW study examines cost of works councils

  In October 2004, the Cologne Institute for Business Research (IW) published a new survey on the cost of implementing the Works Constitution Act - the legislation on which works councils are based - in German firms. According to the study, carried out in collaboration with the BDA employers' confederation, the costs for companies of implementing the Act average EUR 650 per employee for the current year. This makes the annual cost of co-determination EUR 80 more expensive per worker than it was in 1997/8, when a previous study was carried out. The greatest cost and cost driverwas, according to the study, the activities of works councillors. These amounted, on average, to EUR 338 per employee per year, up from EUR 265 six years previously.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Germany: WSI examines parents' views on family-friendly workplaces

  In September 2004, the Institute for Economic and Social Research (WSI) presented the findings of a survey that asked German employees who were responsible for the care of children and/or other relatives about their expectations for a family-friendlyworkplace. A majority of respondents wanted shorter working time in order to be able to reconcile work and family life and most also expressed an interest in maintaining contact with their company during parental leave. The survey found a widespread wish amongst working parents to have more leave options in the event of a child being ill and the possibility to have extra leave when emergency care is needed for children or relatives other than children. Additional special benefits for employees with children are found in only a minority of workplaces.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Cyprus: Cyprus Airways submits survival and restructuring plan

  In August 2004, in a last-ditch effort to address the huge financial problems of Cyprus’s national airline, the board of directors of Cyprus Airways submitted an action plan for the company’s survival and restructuring. The proposals include pay and job cuts and major changes in working time rules, and trade unions at the company argue that employees will be made to bear most of the burden of restructuring.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Czech Republic: Extension of collective agreements under debate

  Following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, since April 2004 the Czech Republic's legislative provisions that allow higher-level(ie multi-employer) collective agreements to be extended to non-signatory employers have been rescinded. In close cooperation with the social partners, the government has drafted an amendment to the relevant legislation, which will create a revised extension scheme, aimed at meeting the Constitutional Court's requirements. 

• 27 Oct 2004
  Estonia: Railway strikes raise questions of legality

  Late September 2004 saw a strike by over 200 train drivers at Estonian Railways over demands for pay increases, plus support action by drivers at another rail company. The strike ended after six days with a pay agreement, but the train drivers' action highlighted problems with Estonian legislation on strikes.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Austria: Autumn bargaining round opens

  In October 2004, against the background of a public debate on possible increases in working time, recently initiated by employers, the pattern-setting metalworking industry opened Austria’s autumn bargaining round. Whereas the employers want a further relaxation of working time regulations, the trade unions demand harmonisation of the pay schemes for the sector’s white- and blue-collar workers. The unions will oppose any attempts to introduce more flexible working time schemes aimed at extending employees’ net working hours.

• 27 Oct 2004
  Belgium: DHL expansion controversy leads to strike

  Autumn 2004 has seen a political controversy in Belgium over plans by the DHL express delivery company to expand its operations at Brussels airport, with a consequent increase in night-time flight movements. As debate has raged at all levels of government about the environmental impact, trade unions organised a strike at the airport in October to support their call for jobs to be a major factor in the decision on the plan.

• 21 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Temporary work, working time and equality discussed at Council

  At an EU social policy and employment Council meeting held on 4 October 2004, ministers debated a number of important measures including draft Directives on equal treatment for women and men (outside the workplace), temporary agency workers and the organisation of working time.

• 21 Oct 2004
  United Kingdom: Union merger momentum continues

  Several major UK unions have been involved in mergers in 2004, continuing a trend established in the 1990s. The mergers go beyond industry consolidation and demonstrate further membership concentration in large, general super-unions.

• 20 Oct 2004
  Ireland: Does workplace partnership offer practical benefits?

  Despite 17 years of successive national agreements in Ireland, as of October 2004 partnership is far from becoming a mainstream practice at the workplace. This article reviews the situation and the current debate, which suggests that workplace partnership may potentially offer practical benefits to employers and trade unions/workers, but only under certain product and labour market conditions.

• 20 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Social partners sign work-related stress agreement

  In October 2004, the EU-level central social partners signed a framework agreement on work-related stress. The agreement, which will be implemented in accordance with the procedures and practices specific to individual countries rather than by an EU Directive, aims to establish a framework within which employers and employee representatives can work together to prevent, identify and combat stress at work.

• 20 Oct 2004
  Malta: Controversy over new smoking regulations

  The enactment of the Smoking in Public Places Regulations in 2004 has become a highly contentious issue between the government and associations representing various sections of the business community. The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) claims that the regulations - which ban smoking in many workplaces - will have particularly adverse effects on entertainment venues, while the social partners generally have accused the government of a lack of consultation.

• 20 Oct 2004
  United Kingdom: Employment tribunal applications analysed

  A survey of UK employment tribunal applications in 2003 confirms previous evidence showing limited formal workplace means to handle disputes between individual employers and employees. The results act as a benchmark of existing practice, ahead of the implementation in October 2004 of new statutory minimum dispute resolution procedures.

• 20 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Commission proposes amendments to working time Directive

  In September 2004, the European Commission issued a proposal to amend the EU working time Directive, focusing on the opt-outfrom the maximum average working week, the treatment of on-call working and reference periods for the calculation of maximum average working time.

• 15 Oct 2004
  Latvia: European Works Councils - law and practice

  This article examines the implementation into Latvian law of the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), and the country's experience of EWCs, as of autumn 2004.

• 15 Oct 2004
  Lithuania: European Works Councils - law and practice

  This article examines the implementation into Lithuanian law of the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), and the country's experience of EWCs, as of autumn 2004.

• 11 Oct 2004
  Cyprus: European Works Councils - law and practice

  This article examines the implementation into Cypriot law of the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), and the country's experience of EWCs, as of autumn 2004.

• 11 Oct 2004
  Czech Republic: European Works Councils - law and practice

  This article examines the implementation into Czech law of the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), and the country's experience of EWCs, as of autumn 2004.

• 11 Oct 2004
  Malta: European Works Councils - law and practice

  This article examines the implementation into Maltese law of the EU Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs), and the country's experience of EWCs, as of autumn 2004..

• 08 Oct 2004
  Romania: Department for Labour Abroad established

  In August 2004, with the number of Romanians working abroad on the rise (estimated at up to 2 million), the Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family decided to set up a Department for Labour Abroad. It plans to appoint labour attachés at certain Romanian embassies and to conclude social security and cooperation agreements with a number of European countries, plus Israel.

• 07 Oct 2004
  Czech Republic: Energy and chemicals unions merge

  The Energy Workers Trade Union (OSE) and the Czech Chemicals Trade Union (OS Chemie) - both affiliated to CMKOS, the Czech Republic's largest trade union confederation - merged in May 2004 to form OS ECHO. The new federation has over 34,000 members.

• 07 Oct 2004
  Slovakia: Wage protests emerge

  September 2004 saw a number of strike and protests in private sector enterprises in Slovakia, focusing on unpaid wages and dissatisfaction with the pay outcomes of collective bargaining. This is unusual in a country where strikes have been rare and trade union protests largely confined to the public sector and responses to government policies.

• 07 Oct 2004
  Czech Republic: Trade unions consulted on new government's programme

  A new centre-left government took office in the Czech Republic in August 2004. It asked the CMKOS trade union confederation to participate in drawing up its programme, and the latter submitted a list of priority suggestions. The adopted programme includes commitments in areas such as promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining, amending labour law and reforming pensions.

• 06 Oct 2004
  Bulgaria: Protests over privatisation at Bulgartabac

  September 2004 saw a number of protests by employees of Bulgaria's state-owned tobacco group, Bulgartabac. The workforce and trade unions are concerned about the employment and social consequences of the group's planned privatisation.

• 06 Oct 2004
  France: Strike follows murder of two junior labour inspectors

  In response to a strike call from their trade unions, officers at the French Labour Inspectorate came out on strike on 16 September 2004 in protest at the murder of two of their colleagues by a farmer. Against a backdrop of perceived deregulation of labour legislation, the strikers demanded condemnation of the murders and recognition of the importance of the job that inspectors do.

• 06 Oct 2004
  France: Legislation planned after restructuring talks fail

  Intersectoral negotiations between the French social partners on social measures to accompany company restructuring and redundancies failed in September 2004, when the MEDEF employers' confederation walked out. The government is now planning legislation in this area.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Malta: Freeport workers demand higher wages

  In August 2004, the General Workers’ Union declared an industrial dispute at the Malta Freeport after the government refused to consider the union's demand for a major pay increase.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Italy: Project focuses on reconciling work and family life for working mothers

  In September 2004, the International Centre for the Study of Family Issues (Cisf) held a conference to present the results of a project conducted in Brianza (Milan), aimed at supporting the reintegration into employment of working mothers after maternity leave. The project highlighted major problems faced by working mothers in Italy and the difficulty of combining their needs with the rigidities of the workplace.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Spain: Sáez Merino closes four plants with over 500 redundancies

  In September 2004, management at Sáez Merino, a Spanish textiles group, started negotiations with workforce representatives over a restructuring plan that will see the closure of four plants in Spain and over 500 job losses. The lost production will be outsourced to companies in North Africa.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Estonia: Train drivers hold Estonia’s longest strike

  In late September 2004, over 200 train drivers at Estonian Railways held a six-day strike to support their demands for pay increases. The longest strike since Estonian independence was ended by a deal brokered by central trade union and employers’ organisations.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Estonia: Collective agreement signed in healthcare sector

  In September 2004, after lengthy negotiations involving the public conciliator, a new two-year collective agreement was signed in the Estonian healthcare sector. It provides for total minimum wage increases of 50% for doctors, 56% for nurses and 43.7% for medical carers.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Cyprus: Collective agreement signed for hotels industry

  In September 2004, after lengthy collective bargaining and mediation, a new sectoral collective agreement was concluded for the Cypriot hotels industry. The deal provides for a 2.3% basic pay rise from October 2004, and also includes new provisions on matters such as health and safety and occupational classification.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Netherlands: Government plans for 2005 meet fierce resistance

  On 21 September 2004, the Dutch government presented its plans for the coming year. The proposals have proved controversial, especially those relating to early retirement, occupational disability insurance and compensation for dismissal. Employers are critical and the trade unions have stepped up their campaign against the government’s policy.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Netherlands: New law alters works council role in larger companies

  A new law on law on supervisory boards in larger companies took effect in the Netherlands on 1 October 2004. This law changes the role of works councils in nominating members of supervisory boards, and has several other implications for the balance of power between shareholders, management and works councils.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Ireland: SIPTU members at Bausch & Lomb reject partnership forum

  In September 2004, members of the SIPTU trade union at Bausch & Lomb, a leading multinational operating in Ireland, voted to pull out of a joint union-management partnership forum. There are concerns that the decision may undermine efforts to build enterprise partnerships at local level in Ireland.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Austria: Union merger plans dropped

  In September 2004, it was announced that plans for a large-scale trade union merger among affiliates of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), initially launched in 2001, had been dropped. Differing corporate culturesamong the unions and inter-union conflicts over the distribution of power and posts are thought to have been among the key factors in the merger's failure.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Romania: Pay controversy in healthcare sector

  In September 2004, the SANITAS Federation of healthcare workers' trade unions resumed a series of protests initiated earlier in the year, claiming that the Romanian government had failed to address all the points of a protocol on improving pay and conditions signed in July 2004. Their demands, relating mainly to pay increases and other benefits, have received support from other union organisations and professional associations.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Slovenia: Journalists' union calls nationwide strike

  The Union of Slovenian Journalists (SNS) has called a national strike by its members, beginning on 3 October 2004, the day of Slovenia's general election. The union's main demand is immediate negotiations on the renewal of the national collective agreement for journalists.

• 05 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Survey finds that most men do not take up parental leave

  The findings of a Eurobarometer survey published in September 2004 indicate that the majority of men in the EU are aware of their right to take parental leave, but are not taking it up. The reasons for this include financial worries, a lack of information about the leave and concerns about career development.

• 05 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Reducing the impact of the ageing workforce

  A European Commission report released in September 2004 looks at the potential impact of ageing in six European countries.

• 05 Oct 2004
  EU Level: Framework accord on social rights signed at Prym

  A global framework agreement on social rights and industrial relations was concluded in July 2004 at the German-headquartered multinational Prym by management, the European Works Council and the International Metalworkers’ Federation.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Denmark: New union holds first congress

  In September 2004, a merger between the General Workers’ Union (SiD) and the National Union of Female Workers (KAD) became a reality when the new organisation, known as 3F, held its inaugural congress. The new union has 375,000 members and is Denmark's largest.

• 05 Oct 2004
  Denmark: Finance employers propose making pension contributions optional for under-35s

  In September 2003, the employers’ association in Denmark's financial sector, FA, called for an end to compulsory employees' occupational pension contributions for workers under 35 years of age. Occupational pension contributions are regulated by the finance sector's collective agreement, which is to be renegotiated in early 2005. Trade unions and other large employers’ associations are not enthusiastic over FA's proposal.

• 05 Oct 2004
  France: Corsican Workers' Union organises strike at SNCM

  In September 2004, after a three-week strike, the Corsican Workers' Union (STC) obtained a commitment from the state-owned maritime transport firm, SNCM, that it will recruit more Corsican residents. The other trade unions at SNCM and the national union confederations have strongly criticised this deal.

• 04 Oct 2004
  United Kingdom: UK reaction to European Commission working time proposals

  The European Commission’s September 2004 proposal for amending the working time Directive met with a critical response from both employers and trade unions in the UK.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Sweden: Strike action called in air transport

  In September 2004, the Swedish Transport Workers’ Union gave notice of strike action in the air transport sector from 11 October, if mediation fails in a dispute over new pay agreements covering 2004-7. The union is opposed to calls from the SAS airline for increased working time without additional pay.

• 04 Oct 2004
  United Kingdom: TUC defers decision on EU constitution

  At its annual conference in September 2004, the Trades Union Congress put off reaching a definitive decision on the stance it will take in the planned UK referendum on the proposed EU constitutional treaty.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Norway: Lidl enters Norwegian market

  In September 2004, Lidl opened its first nine outlets in Norway. In the light of allegations about the German-based retail multinational's labour practices in other countries, its arrival has caused some uncertainty among Norwegian trade unions, but so far the company has adopted an accommodating approach to the unions.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Hungary: Renewed tensions between public sector unions and government

  Although public sector trade unions in Hungary reluctantly agreed to a government offer of a 6% wage increase for 2004, implementation of the agreement in the various subsectors has given rise to disputes during the year. Tensions were further fuelled in August by the announcement of the draft 2005 state budget, which envisages major public administration job cuts.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Greece: New regulations on fixed-term contracts in private sector

  In August 2004, the Greek government issued a new Presidential Decree (PD) on fixed-term contract workers in the private sector. It makes significant changes to the previous legislative framework.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Greece: New agreement signed for banking sector

  In June 2004, a new two-year sectoral collective agreement was signed for banks and similar institutions throughout Greece. The deal provides for pay increases of 6% in 2004 and 5.9% in 2005.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Greece: Court rules in favour of harmonisation of white- and blue-collar severance pay

  In September 2004, a Greek court ruled that current legislation that draws a distinction between white- and blue-collar workers with regard to the amount of their severance pay is contrary to the Greek Constitution and therefore invalid. Harmonisation of severance pay for the two groups of employees is a long-standing demand of the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE).

• 04 Oct 2004
  Germany: Federal states want to repeal shop hours law

  In September 2004, the the second chamber of the German parliament called on the first chamber to transfer the legal competence for regulating shop opening hours from the federal to the individual state level. In future, the federal states want to decide if and when shops close, and some have already announced plans to remove many restrictions on opening hours. This move has been welcomed by retail employers' associations but heavily criticised by the ver.di trade union.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Lithuania: Minimum wage increase suspended

  In September 2004, the Lithuanian Ministry of Social Security and Labour proposed to the social partners a 20% increase in the national minimum wage. However, it was decided to suspend debate on the issue until any potential negative consequences of such a rise have been assessed.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Poland: Unions criticise draft budget for 2005

  In September 2004, Poland's three main central trade union organisations issued a joint declaration criticising the government's draft national budget for 2005, arguing that is not in line with the legitimate expectations of society at large.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Poland: Union established at Biedronka retail chain

  Unionisation is very low in the Polish retail sector, so the establishment in May 2004 of a company-level section of the Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union Solidarity (NSZZ Solidarność) at the Biedronka supermarket chain was a notable event.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Finland: Government promises tax cuts in return for strong wage restraint

  In September 2004, the government announced its objectives for Finland's forthcoming round of wage negotiations. It advocates a three-year centralised settlement with wage increases averaging 0.7% per year, combined with income tax cuts worth EUR 1.5 billion. Trade unions have rejected the proposition and insist that disposable income should be raised by wage increases, not by tax reductions. Employers have been critical of the government's decision to make the tax cuts conditional on a moderate wage settlement.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Finland: SME employers’ role in collective bargaining strengthened

  In September 2004, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises (SY), a pressure group representing 88,000 SMEs, and Finnish Industries (EK), the main central employers’ organisation, agreed to increase their cooperation in matters related to labour market policy. This gives SY wider influence over collective bargaining.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Latvia: Anaesthetists launch wage campaign

  In September 2004, anaesthetists at Latvia’s largest hospital launched a campaign for increased pay, threatening to cut their working hours drastically if their demands are not met. The campaign has been joined by anaesthetists from across the country.

• 04 Oct 2004
  Sweden: Two LO-affiliated unions decide to merge

  In August-September 2004, the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union (Metall) and the Industrial Labour Union (Industrifacket) decided to merge from the beginning of 2006. Both unions belong to the LO confederation, and the merged organisation will have some 470,000 members.