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December 2005

• 22 Dec 2005
  France: Government unveils family-friendly measures

  At the 2005 Conference on the Family, the government announced several new policies, including a mini-reform of paid parental leave. These announcements have not been greeted with unanimous approval by trade unions.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Bulgaria: Employers call for better vocational training

  The limited supply of skilled personnel and the gap between the needs of business and educational outcomes is a major cause of concern to business people. This is a major finding from a sociological survey of employers carried out in the period March-June 2005. The survey targeted three main groups: entrepreneurs of micro-companies, owners of small, medium and large enterprises (including exporters and foreign-owned companies) and employers from sectors such as tourism, retail, construction, utilities, food production/agriculture/horticulture, advertising and information technologies. This article focuses on the views of emplyers concerning vocational education and training, lifelong learning, and career development. It also looks at the impact of labour legislation and tax relief in this area. Finally the article highlights the main obstacles faced by employers when trying to develop their workforce.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Slovakia: Impact of changes to minimum wage

  The minimum wage in Slovakia was increased from SKK 6,500 to SKK 6,900 monthly (SKK 39.70 per hour) on 1 October 2005. It represents an increase of 6.2% compared to 2004. The minimum wage is a point of reference for more than forty pieces of legislation, and therefore changes in the minimum wage will affect not only those in receipt of the minimum wage but also other workers and recipients of certain social security benefits. Some employers want it ended in its present form. A special tripartite expert working group is examining the possibility of changing the method of setting and modifying the minimum wage and severing its connection to other laws.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Slovenia: Delays in implementing the EU company law regulation

  Slovenia, along with some other EU Member States, did not meet the transposition deadline of 8 October 2004 for the Statute for a European Company Directive (SE Directive) or make the necessary changes to comply with the SE Regulation by that date. The implementation of the SE Directive has made no visible progress until 6 October 2005 when the government adopted a draft of a new Law on Companies (draft new LC) and submitted it to the parliament for the first reading. Slovenia received a warning earlier this year from the European Commission to speed up the implementation process. The draft LC implements the SE Regulation and foresees a one-tier management structure for all Slovenian joint stock companies alongside the existing two-tier structure now compulsory for larger joint stock companies. This enables the implementation of the SE employee involvement Directive by adopting a special law. However, some experts claim that a one-tier management structure will destroy the board-level employee representation.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Germany: Positive impact of work-life balance policies in companies

  At the beginning of November, the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln) reported the findings of its study on best practices of work-life balance policies in collective and works agreements. A survey of these agreements reveals that many programmes have been implemented in various fields, such as flexible working-time arrangements and teleworking, the care of family members, parental leave and family assistance.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Poland: Government drive to tackle unemployment

  This article looks at the impact of amendments to the Act regarding the promotion of employment and labour market iInstitutions. In particular it looks at how ‘activation contracts’ and state employment schemes will affect unemployment rates in Poland.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Spain: Continuing training and collective agreements

  In recent years, the National Agreements for Continuing Training (ANFCs) have established a continuing training subsystem. It was initially centralised and based mainly on the initiative of the social partners, but the 2004 reform decentralised the management to the autonomous communities, which led to a greater involvement by the government at different levels. The ANFCs have fostered social consultation in the framework of industrial relations that, albeit with limited effects, has developed continuing training. A large percentage of the collective agreements - particularly sectoral ones - adhere to the ANFCs and they are responsible for developing them. This article looks at how the signatories view the way in which training is dealt with in collective agreements.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Italy: All work and no play for middle managers

  A recent survey conducted at the beginning of 2005 by Apq, the Italian association of professionals and middle managers (affiliated to the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Unions, Cisl) looked at the role of middle management. The survey reveals that middle managers work more than in the past, have higher job flexibility, less spare time, approve of training but dislike the changes in the workplace that arise through technological innovation, and above all, earn less money.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Norway: Trade unions slow to integrate ethnic minorities

  Norwegian trade unions are not doing enough to include ethnic minorities among their ranks, according to a recent report by the FAFO Institute for Labour and Social Research in October 2005. In order to remedy the situation, trade unions must articulate clear central policies, raise competence levels among local representatives, and create the institutional capacity to monitor the needs of workers with an ethnic minority background.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Germany: Christmas bonuses - an overview

  According to data published in November 2005 by the Institute of Economic and Social Research within the Hans Böckler Foundation (WSI), 73% of all German employees receive a Christmas bonus, a profit-sharing payment or some other annual bonus payment. While 84% of employees covered by a collective agreement receive such an annual payment, only 59% of employees not covered by a collective agreement do so. Most sectoral collective agreements provide for a Christmas bonus but the collectively agreed rates vary considerably between industries. Proposals by the new coalition government to cut the Christmas bonus for career public servants in 2006 have met with protests from trade unions.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Estonia: Study examines employee participation in enterprises

  In November 2005, a study was published on the little-researched issue of employee participation in Estonian companies. The study finds that in general participation is seen as an important issue, but in most cases it is limited to consultation on organisational questions. The research indicates that the intensity of participation depends not on the existence of employee representatives but on the interest of managers in the issue, and the authors thus argue that the interest of both parties is essential for successful participation.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Finland: Research examines position of unions at Nordic companies' operations in Baltic States

  This article presents the findings - published in 2005 - of research conducted as part of the Nordic-Baltic Project, a collaboration among trade union organisations from the Baltic Sea region. The research examined the industrial relations situation at Nordic-owned companies operating in the construction and manufacturing sectors of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). The levels of union organisation and the incidence of collective agreements were surveyed quantitatively, and interviews were conducted to assess working conditions, collective bargaining and the scope of employee participation. The evidence suggests that the position of workers varies greatly by sector, country, employer and the owners’ nationality.

• 22 Dec 2005
  Hungary: Employers’ organisations reviewed

  Employer representation in Hungary has been very fragmented since the transition to democracy, and in 2005 there are nine national-level employers’ organisations. This article describes the main characteristics of employers’ associations and their role in the Hungarian industrial relations system.

• 21 Dec 2005
  Germany: ECJ limits fixed-term employment for older workers

  In November 2005, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against the use in Germany of a legal provision that allows employers to conclude several successive fixed-term contracts with older employees. According to the ECJ, the current exemption of people over the age of 52 from the general requirements for permitting fixed-term employment does not comply with the age discrimination provisions of the EU framework equal opportunities Directive. German trade unions have welcomed the judgment, while employers have criticised it.

• 21 Dec 2005
  EU Level: European Council focuses on jobs and migration

  A European Council summit was held in December 2005, under the UK Presidency, which discussed the topics of growth, employment and migration. The Council issued a text on adopting a global approach to migration, focusing on the EU’s neighbouring regions in Africa and around the Mediterranean.

• 21 Dec 2005
  EU Level: Agreement on working time Directive eludes December social Council

  An EU social affairs Council held in December 2005 looked at a range of issues, including the controversial proposed revision of the working time Directive. Although progress was reported, no consensus was reached. However, ministers were successful in reaching political agreement on a proposal to recast EU equality legislation.

• 21 Dec 2005
  EU Level: European Parliament adopts resolution on globalisation

  In November 2005, the European Parliament adopted an own-initiative resolution on the social dimension of globalisation, focusing on what can be done to ensure that workers and citizens are protected from the negative effects of this development.

• 21 Dec 2005
  EU Level: Performing arts social partners issue joint declaration on cultural diversity

  In November 2005, European-level social partner representatives from the live performance sector agreed a joint declaration on cultural diversity. The document seeks to establish the position of the performing arts in relation to cultural policy and public funding of the arts, especially with regard to the position of the arts in negotiations on the General Agreement on Trades and Services (GATS) being held under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

• 21 Dec 2005
  Ireland: Irish Ferries dispute finally resolved after bitter stand-off

  A deeply entrenched dispute between management and trade unions at Irish Ferries was finally resolved in December 2005 after the state dispute-resolution institutions formulated a settlement acceptable to both sides, following intensive talks. The conflict had threatened to derail the national social partnership process and it has highlighted a number of important issues for the future of industrial relations in Ireland.

• 21 Dec 2005
  United Kingdom: Pensions Commission issues final report

  At the end of November 2005, a Pensions Commission appointed by the UK government published its final report. This article highlights some of the key issues raised in the report and reviews the responses of employers and trade unions.

• 21 Dec 2005
  Malta: Sea Malta liquidated after failed privatisation bid

  Privatisation of the national shipping line Sea Malta fell through in November 2005, despite 16 months of intense negotiations, because the General Workers’ Union failed to meet a deadline set by the prospective buyer for agreeing new working conditions for seafarers. This resulted in the Maltese government liquidating the shipping line in December.

• 21 Dec 2005
  Malta: Mixed reactions to 2006 budget from social partners

  In October 2005, the Maltese government unveiled its 2006 budget, which addresses a number of key issues and introduces an array of measures. However, it was the government’s pre-budget decision to increase the price of petrol and surcharges on water and electricity bills that took centre stage. The social partners have expressed diverging opinions on the effectiveness of the budget, with the General Workers’ Union particularly vociferous in its criticisms.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Denmark: Workers from the East European countries counteract bottleneck problems

  The workers from the new EU countries who have come to Denmark since the enlargement of the European Union in May 2004 have contributed to counteracting the emergence of bottlenecks on the labour market - in particular in agriculture and horticulture and in the building sector. This is one of the results of a report published by the Ministry of Employment on 30 November 2005.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Germany: Continental wants to close tyre plant despite employment pact

  On 22 November 2005 the Continental AG, Hannover, Germany, announced that it would close down its production of vehicle tyres at the company’s site in Hannover-Stöcken at the end of 2006 and cut 320 jobs. This announcement was made despite an employment pact concluded between the company and the works council in May 2005 in which the company had agreed to maintain the tyre production at the Stöcken site in exchange for longer working hours without pay compensation. The Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE) said it was the first time a company had not honoured such an employment pact and regarded the company’s move as a revocation of social partnership at Continental.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Cyprus: SEK calls for amendment to Income Tax law

  In November 2005, the Cyprus Workers' Confederation issued a demand for immediate amendment of the Income Tax law and a review of a range of social allowances.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Cyprus: Arab Bank continues operations in Cyprus after agreement with trade unions

  In November 2005, after agreement with trade unions, Arab Bank has finally decided to retain part of its business in Cyprus, by dismissing a total of 60 employees.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Greece: GSEE’s Demands for the New National General Collective Labor Agreement

  On 2 November 2005, the Greek General Confederation of Labour (GSEE) addressed an invitation to the employer organisations to begin bargaining in order to draw up and sign the new National General Collective Labour Agreement for the year 2006.

• 13 Dec 2005
  Greece: Strikes in the Public and Private Sectors

  Strikes and protest rallies were held during the week from 7 to 12 November by employees in the public and private sectors, whose demands included pay and non-pay, claims.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Sweden: No need for the legislator to regulate the supervising of collective agreements

  7 November 2005 the Government Commissioner Birgitta Nyström, Professor in Labour Law handed over a Committee Report to the Working Life Minister Hans Karlsson about a possible surveillance of collective agreements. The opinions of the two seem to be the same - there is no need for a legal surveillance.

• 08 Dec 2005
  United Kingdom: Union highlights exploitation of Polish migrant workers in UK

  In November 2005, the Transport and General Workers’ Union wrote to the Polish prime minister, who was visiting London, urging him to raise the issue of the exploitation and abuse of Polish migrant workers in the UK with British government.

• 08 Dec 2005
  EU Level: Commission issues 2006 work programme

  In October 2005, the European Commission issued its legislative and work programme for 2006. In the area of employment and social affairs, it concentrates on tackling the challenges of an ageing population, increasing worker mobility, modernising labour legislation, drawing up a new health and safety strategy and promoting gender equality.

• 08 Dec 2005
  EU Level: Social dialogue agreement in the postal sector 

  In November 2005, the Universal Postal Union and Union Network International signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting social dialogue between the two organisations.

• 08 Dec 2005
  EU Level: UNI holds first ever conference on call centres

  As unions are being urged to increase cooperation at national and international level to organise workers in the fast-growing call centre industry, the first ever global conference dedicated to call centres was held in Athens in October 2005. Interim results from a global survey of the industry were presented at the conference.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Belgium: A legal framework for teleworking

  The employers’ and workers’ organisations represented on the National Labour Council (Conseil National du Travail/Nationale Arbeidsraad, CNT/ NAR) concluded a collective agreement on tele-working on 9 November. It transposes the framework agreement signed by the social partners in July 2002, and will come into force no later than 1 July 2006.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Belgium: Social plan at Belgacom. Negotiations at La Poste

  Negotiations over a social plan at Belgacom have been satisfactorily concluded despite opposition from one trade union. At La Poste, talks are still taking place between management and the trade unions on the implementation of a plan for rationalising distribution of the mail. In both cases, the result will be job losses.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Slovakia: Visually disabled people coping with the EES

  At the end of October a European conference was held in Bratislava where questions on implementation of the European Employment Strategy for visually disabled people were discussed. Representatives of wide range of organizations and entities dealing with employment of the visually disabled people in the EU countries participated in this conference. A special attention was devoted to the perspective of employment of visually disabled people in the labour market.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Teachers Trade Union Protests Against the 2006 Education Budget

  December began with fortnight protests of the Bulgarian Teachers Trade Union (a member of the largest trade union - the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria) against the education funds allocated in the 2006 government budget. As part of their strike demands teachers insist that some additional BGN 132.5 million be allocated for education.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Slovakia: Policemen organised in Trade Unions are protesting

  Policemen, trade unionists, organised for the first time a public protest action in Slovakia. They asked for higher wages, better technical equipment and maintaining of social security. Their protest was negatively accepted from the side of the Ministry of Interior according to which the wages of policemen are indeed low however they will be expressively increased in the near future. In connection with the protest activity the head of the Police trade unions was recalled what was highly criticised by the Confederation of Trade Unions. At present unionized policemen are planning next protest actions.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Finland: Viking Rosella case to be decided by the European Court of Justice

  English Court of Appeal lifted in November 2005 the injunction set in June against the Finnish Seamen’s Union (SM-U) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). The court also decided to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which is now to set a precedent that will determine whether unions have the right to take collective action in the face of companies using their right of moving freely between EU member states.

• 08 Dec 2005
  United Kingdom: CAC receives first cases under consultation Regulations

  The Central Arbitration Committee has published details of three complaints under the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations that it received in August-October 2005. These are the first disputes over the application of the Regulations to be dealt with by the CAC since the legislation came into effect in April 2005.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Estonia: Disputes over a new Employees’ Representatives Act

  In November 2005, the Ministry of Social Affairs sent a draft of the Employees’ Representatives Act to the social partners for consultation, but met immediately a severe opposition from trade unions. The aim of the act is to transpose the EU Directive on national information and consultation rules, which Estonia should have ratified already by March 2005.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Spain: Five-day strike in the coal mines

  The breakdown in negotiations on the 2006-2012 National Coal Plan led to a strike in the mining sector. The mining counties of northern Spain have already been severely hit by mine closures.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Spain: The Spanish Intertextile Council earns of the effects of the liberalization of the sector on employment

  Employment in the textile sector is threatened by the prospects for 2010. Imports of products from China and India may reduce current employment by half. The employers of the textile sector are in favour of the Pan-Mediterranean Area.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Netherlands: Tugboat and salvage worker strike at Smit Internationale achieves better collective terms

  Tugboat and salvage workers at the maritime company Smit Internationale came out in strike in November 2005, after collective bargaining rounds ran aground. In addition to increased pay and price compensation, compensation for overtime and treatment by management were on the agenda. In the wake of various 12-hour strikes affecting different divisions within the company, the Allied Unions (FNV Bondgenoten) are again in a position to put a new proposal for a collective agreement to their members.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Italy: Reform of supplementary pensions system approved

  On 23 November 2005, the Italian cabinet approved a reform of the supplementary pension system which envisages the transfer of workers' current end-of-service allowancesto occupational pension funds, unless the workers object . The reform, to the disappointment of trade unions, will not come into force until 2008 for large companies and 2009 for small and medium-sized companies.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Italy: Constitutional reform approved

  On 16 November 2005 the Italian senate enacted the bill which reforms part of the Italian constitution. Devolution of the State’s powers to regions and premiership are the most important novelties of the reform which triggered the fierce reaction of the trade unions.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Italy: Petrochemical Pole of Porto Marghera at risk

  The Italian chemical sector is still undergoing a serious crisis. Thousands of jobs are at risk due to envisaged clearance, dismantling and restructuring plans. On 21 November 2005 about 2,000 workers of the petrochemical pole of Porto Marghera (Venice) went on a four-hour strike. The sectoral trade unions are seriously concerned for the future of the sector and keep demanding effective measures to sustain the development for the Italian chemical industry.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Latvia: The Government Increases the Minimum Wage to 90 Lats per Month

  At the end of October 2005 the Government made the final decision on the minimum wage in Latvia to be EUR 128 per month as of 1 January 2006. More than EUR 37 million in the state budget have been allocated for the increased minimum wage. The increased minimum wage was one of the requirements set forth by the trade unions. After the increase the minimum wage is to be 36% of the gross average salary as at June 2005, but only 30% (lower than ever since 1997) of the gross average salary as at June 2006. The other demand of trade unions - to increase the untaxed minimum, is currently not being discussed.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Poland: Escalation of conflicts in the Coal-mine Budryk Joint-Stock Company

  It seemed that the vast array of measures undertaken by the unionists and the representatives of the board in the course of the conflict in the Coal-mine Budryk was finally exhausted. However, parties to the dispute resolved to appeal to court. What is more, their aim was not to solve the conflict, but to provide a legal basis for their actions.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Austria: Chamber of the Economy envisages further reform steps

  After thoroughgoing restructuring of the Chamber of the Economy (WKÖ) in the first half of the decade, which has culminated in a reduction of compulsory membership dues by 30%, the Chamber leadership plans to take a further reform step beginning in 2007. The aim is to introduce a more streamlined organisational structure, a further reform of the system of membership dues and an amendment to the current system of voting rights for the member firms.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Lithuania: Civil servants and officers are seeking for better social guarantees

  On September 2005 trade unions of Lithuanian law enforcement officers and civil servants signed a resolution whereby they raised requirements concerning their social guarantees. Failure by the Government to satisfy these requirements resulted in protest actions rippling all over Lithuania.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Greece: Data from the Information Center for Workers and the Unemployed (KEPEA) on unemployed visitors to the Center

  In late November the Information Center for Workers and the Unemployed (KEPEA) of the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE) has released data on the profile of unemployed people who have visited the Center.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Ireland: Postal strike averted as state’s dispute agencies put to the test

  A disruptive pre-Christmas postal dispute over pay and change has been averted, thereby avoiding a political headache for the Government.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Hungary: Social security supervisory boards re-established

  The renewed bodies of social partners working with the National Pension Insurance General Directorate and National Health Insurance Fund are not self-governments but perform a consulting and controlling role

• 08 Dec 2005
  Norway: New employers organisation established

  The founding assembly of the Norwegian Manufacturing Industry Association was held on 28 November 2005. It is the largest national association of NHO covering approximately 110,000 employees in more than 2,000 companies.

• 08 Dec 2005
  Norway: Government reverses controversial changes to work environment legislation

  In November 2005 a proposal to change work environment legislation in Norway was put forward by the new government. The original controversial changes providing for easier access to temporary employees will thus not take effect, and working time provisions will now become more restrictive.

• 05 Dec 2005
  Slovenia: Workers with occupational diseases cannot exercise their rights

  In late 2005, the Union of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) continues to highlight the difficult situation of workers with occupational diseases, who cannot exercise their rights because the minister of health has not determined the procedures for the verification of such diseases. A 2003 Resolution on the National Programme on Health and Safety at Work provides for the appropriate regulation of the verification of occupational diseases and its financing, but has not yet been implemented.

• 05 Dec 2005
  Slovenia: Register of occupational diseases not yet established

  In Slovenia, a register of occupational diseases has not yet been established, as of late 2005, because the minister of health has not determined the procedures for the verification of occupational diseases (with the exception of asbestos-related occupational diseases). As a result, most cases of occupational diseases are not reported and there are no data on such diseases, a situation that causes concern to trade unions.

• 05 Dec 2005
  Hungary: New legislation proposed on temporary agency work 

  In September 2005, the Hungarian government submitted a draft amendment of the Labour Code to the tripartite National Interest Reconciliation Council (OÉT). The proposal would change the law on temporary agency work, with the aim of curbing undeclared work and defining explicit rules on equal pay for agency workers.

• 05 Dec 2005
  Italy: Union confederations unite against budget law

  In September-October 2005, the Italian government issued the draft state budget law for 2006. The budget is strongly opposed by the trade union confederations, which have jointly proposed amendments and called a four-hour general strike on 25 November. Many local authorities have been equally critical and have protested against the major financial cuts envisaged by the budget law for municipalities, provinces and regions. The Confindustria employers' confederation has been more cautious in its reaction, praising some provisions of the law while criticising others.

• 05 Dec 2005
  EU Countries: Relations du travail dans le secteur du transport aérien

  Au cours des deux dernières décennies, le secteur du transport aérien européen a connu un certain nombre de bouleversements et de changements, essentiellement en raison de la libéralisation du marché et de la création ultérieure de compagnies aériennes à bas tarifs. Cela a eu un impact considérable sur l’emploi et sur les relations du travail dans le secteur. La présente étude comparative examine la récente évolution du secteur du transport aérien, l’emploi, la situation des entreprises nationales de transport aérien, les principaux syndicats et associations patronales, la structure et le contenu des négociations collectives, et l’impact des compagnies aériennes à bas prix sur les relations du travail.

• 02 Dec 2005
  France: Unions demonstrate over jobs and purchasing power

  On 4 October 2005, French trade unions organised nationwide demonstrations, calling for the creation of secure jobs and an increase in employees' purchasing power. Over a million people reportedly took part in the protests. The government has continued with the measures on pay and jobs that it had already launched, but agreed to meet the unions in November.

• 02 Dec 2005
  Poland: Hypermarkets in the spotlight again

  The operations of large supermarket chains in Poland were in the headlines in November 2005. Trade unions demanded that Independence Day, the Polish national holiday on 11 November, should be a day off for hypermarket employees, as it is for most workers. Furthermore, Teresa Lubińska, the newly installed Minister of Finance, reportedly made comments to the effect that large supermarket chains are not welcome in the country. Finally, the leading party in the new government, Law and Justice (PiS), proposed legislation placing limits on the opening of large stores.

• 02 Dec 2005
  Romania: Major wave of strikes and protests

  November 2005 in Romania has seen strikes or protests over pay and restructuring by workers in the education sector, miners, civil servants, employees of METROREX (the Bucharest underground rail system) and workers at the Tractorul Braşov tractor factory. The wave of conflicts has created a difficult situation for the government in the context of the approval of the state budget for 2006.

• 02 Dec 2005
  Estonia: Disputes over civil service pay

  In the second half of 2005, the Estonian government and the EAKL trade union confederation have been negotiating over the pay of civil servants. Both parties have stated that the salary system for civil servants is outdated and that new principles need to be worked out for the system. In recent years, the government and EAKL have reached no pay agreements and the government has increased the salary rates of different civil servants selectively. Several civil service trade unions have organised protest actions in support of their demands.