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April 2007

• 27 Apr 2007
  Lithuania: Economically dependent workers in Lithuania

  The issue of economically dependent workers has not yet come to the fore in Lithuania, and only some aspects of the issue, which are usually not related to industrial relations, emerge in public discussions. However, from expert assessments, it is clear that there are workers in Lithuania who fall into the category of economically dependent workers.

• 27 Apr 2007
  United Kingdom: Burberry offers factory to local community after protests over closure

  Leading UK fashion brand Burberry planned to close its factory at Treorchy in Wales at the end of March 2007. Following a high profile campaign against the plant’s closure, organised by the GMB general trade union, the company has significantly increased the redundancy package on offer to the workers affected and steps are being taken to set up a workers’ cooperative business at the factory.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Collective agreement signed at steel giant Tenaris-Dalmine

  At the end of February 2007, a company-level agreement was signed at the Tenaris-Dalmine steel company, following almost a year of debate. Tenaris-Dalmine has four plants, the main plant being located in the northwest of Italy. All of the four plants’ 3,300 employees have expressed their approval of the agreement through a referendum. The agreement introduces some new elements, such as providing greater job security for short-term workers, new rules for health and safety monitoring, and a performance and quality-related bonus increase.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Social partners present agreement on information and consultation bill

  In November 2006, the Italian social partners presented to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security a ‘Common avis’ or agreement for the transposition of the Directive 2002/14/EC establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community. The government welcomed the social partners’ agreement and considered it as an important step towards strengthening the autonomy of industrial relations in Italy. The directive was duly transposed into Italian law in January 2007.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Estonia: Economically dependent workers in Estonia

  In Estonia, the use of economically dependent work is increasing, particularly in certain sectors of the economy, such as construction. As a new Employment Contracts Act is currently being drafted, the debate focuses on why employers seem to prefer contracting self-employed persons instead of employees, and which legal changes are required to encourage employers to use standard employment contracts.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Germany: New collective agreement signed in chemicals industry

  At the beginning of March 2007, the bargaining partners in the chemicals industry signed a new collective agreement, stipulating two one-off payments plus a general wage increase of 3.6%. In addition, the social partners agreed to extend efforts to create more apprenticeship places. The Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industrial Union welcomed the terms of this new collective agreement. However, employer organisations stressed that wage increases agreed on by the social partners in the chemicals industry would not necessarily be suitable for other sectors.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Germany: Government sets minimum wages for cleaning industry

  On 9 March 2007, the coalition government agreed on the introduction of minimum wage provisions for the cleaning industry, in which around 850,000 people are currently employed. Minimum wages were set by the social partners in the sector at €7.87 per hour for workers in western Germany and at €6.36 for workers in eastern Germany. Both rates were declared as being generally binding by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Finland: Proposals for new national incomes policy agreement

  The current national incomes policy agreement, which lasted two and a half years, is due to expire at the end of September 2007. The social partners have already put forward their expectations about the possibilities of a new centralised agreement on incomes policy. However, although the government and labour market confederations believe the current agreement to be successful, the conclusion of a new national agreement is uncertain. Some trade unions have stated that they would prefer to have negotiations at sectoral level.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Finland: New collective agreement for food and drink sector

  In April 2007, the Finnish Food Workers’ Union and the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation reached consensus on a new collective agreement for the sector, thus averting the threat of a strike. The agreement period, which will run from April 2007 to the end of March 2010, includes provisions for a 3% pay increase in the first year of the agreement.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Finland: Future of tripartite bargaining called into question

  The Managing Director of the Finnish Business and Policy Forum, Sixten Korkman, has published a report assessing tripartite cooperation. He states that, instead of an overall national pay increase, companies should have more leeway to agree on wages at individual workplaces, and even on a personal level with individual employees. However, this proposal has been sharply criticised by the trade unions. All three trade union confederations have given their reaction to the report.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Austria: Social partners hold differing views on parents’ right to work part time

  Almost three years after the introduction of the right to part-time work for parents of small children, the social partners have outlined their perceptions of and proposals for improvements to the scheme. Whereas the business side argues that many employees could abuse the scheme in order to obtain better protection against dismissals, trade unions are calling for an extension of the scheme’s coverage.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Austria: Partial opening of labour market to workers from new Member States

  In March 2007, Austria’s coalition government agreed on the partial opening of the country’s labour market to workers from the new Member States, whose access to the domestic labour market has been restricted thus far. This decision was made in light of companies’ repeated claims of a significant shortage of skilled workers in at least some sectors of the economy. However, the trade unions oppose these plans as they fear this initiative would force wage levels down, and are instead calling for a qualification initiative as well as measures prompting employers to hire more apprentices.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: Economically dependent workers in the Czech Republic

  In the Czech Republic, economically dependent work has been increasing across sectors over the past decade. Officially, this category of workers belongs to the category of self-employed people and they work for an employer under a contract in line with the Czech Commercial Code. However, these workers are not covered by provisions of the Labour Code but they are included in the social security system and are therefore required to pay premiums on pension and health insurance plus a contribution to state employment policy. To control the presence of economically dependent work in the labour market, debate currently focuses on how to reduce non-wage labour costs, such as social insurance, and to encourage employers to use standard employment contracts.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Renewal of supplementary contract for electrical appliance company workers

  In December 2006, a draft supplementary agreement was signed between the Italian trade unions representing workers in the metalworking and mechanical engineering sector and the Italian Indesit Company group. The main provisions of the agreement relate to wage increases, employment issues and industrial policy.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: New agreement signed on reorganisation of public administration

  In mid January 2007, the government and the main Italian trade union confederations reached agreement on the reorganisation of public administration. The aim is to modernise the Italian public sector and improve its performance. The content of the agreement should be included in the upcoming renewals of the collective agreements for public servants.

• 27 Apr 2007
  France: National police force holds workplace elections

  Workplace elections were held in all parts and grades of the national police force in France from 20 to 23 November 2006. As well as the usual focus on defending the position of the police force in society, controversy was also raised in relation to the policies of Nicolas Sarkozy, the former Interior Minister and right-wing candidate for the presidential elections on 22 April 2007.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Hungary: Chamber of Physicians object to government law to ban compulsory membership

  In the autumn of 2006, the Hungarian parliament passed new legislation on professional chambers in the healthcare sector, which came into effect from 1 April 2007. While the aim of this regulation is to weaken professional chambers in general by terminating compulsory membership, it is primarily targeted at the Hungarian Chamber of Physicians. The latter has been criticised by the socialist-liberal government for its compulsory membership and opposition to reforms. In response, the Chamber is strengthening its position in relation to interest representation.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Petrol distributors strike in protest against sector liberalisation

  In January 2007, the trade union representing petrol distributors in Italy announced 14 days of strike action, spanning over the months of February, March and April 2007, in protest against the measures approved by the government to liberalise the sector.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Management and unions sign agreement to protect workers in bank merger

  On 21 December 2006, the management of Italy’s Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI met with the worker representatives of both companies. The two banks informed the trade unions of their merger and its consequences in legal, economic and corporate terms, together with the measures that were planned. The merger was formalised on 1 January 2007.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Company agreement renewed at Electrolux

  On 16 January 2007, the Italian sectoral trade unions representing workers in the metalworking sector renewed the company agreement with management at Electrolux, the world’s largest manufacturer of household appliances. The renewal of the agreement will affect some 10,000 workers in Italy. Among the main features of the agreement are limitations regarding results-oriented premiums in the use of atypical workers, along with a new set of rules concerning holiday time.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Trade unions adopt a common strategy for improving health and safety at work

  Every year in Italy, an average of 1,300 deaths and over one million injuries occur at the workplace. Moreover, many pathological conditions arise as a result of working conditions. In January 2007, Italy’s three main trade union confederations, Cgil, Cisl and Uil, organised a national assembly of middle managers and delegates aimed at promoting a general mobilisation of workers in relation to the issue of health and safety at the workplace.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Italy: Unions react to terrorist infiltration of trade unions

  Infiltration of terrorists in the trade union movement has been highlighted once again through the arrest of 15 terrorists from the Red Brigades on 13 February 2007. Seven of those arrested were listed members of the General Confederation of Italian Workers (Cgil), but were immediately suspended from their positions. Cgil, together with the other leading trade union confederations – the Italian Confederation of Workers’ Trade Unions and the Union of Italian Workers – instigated a debate on the issue, taking part in meetings and demonstrations in the cities where the arrests took place.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Norway: Woman loses equal pay claim at Equality Tribunal

  A case concerning a female senior consultant who claimed that her employer breached Norwegian law regarding the principle of equal pay for work of equal value came before the Equality and Anti-discrimination Tribunal in February 2007. The tribunal ruled in favour of the plaintiff, arguing that her work was of equal value to that of a male typographer in the same company. However, the woman lost the case as the tribunal also considered the payment of the two employees to be at the same level. This is the first time that two such diverse positions were considered to be of equal value by the tribunal.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Romania: Outcome of postal workers’ protests paves way for wage increase

  Members of the Romanian Post Trade Union Federation who staged several protests in order to bring company activities to a halt have had the first of their demands met. The National Romanian Post Office Company has been withdrawn from the list of government-monitored companies, thus paving the way for negotiations on wage increases and improved working conditions.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Romania: National strategy regarding European year of equal opportunities

  The Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family has set up a task force which would be responsible for devising Romania’s national strategy for the European year of equal opportunities for all. The aim behind such an initiative is to address discrimination on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The ministry is the national body responsible for the strategy’s implementation. The task force published a substantial document setting out its intended courses of action on the website of the National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Romania: New provisions of wage guarantee fund announced

  The government recently announced its decision to implement the law on the setting up and use of the wage guarantee fund. Prior to the transposition of European provisions in the field, employees could recover their money only by taking the matter to court, which could often be a particularly lengthy process.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Romania: Concern expressed over gender gap in pension reform

  The pensions system in Romania has gone through several consecutive stages of reform. The current regulations, representing the outcome of the most recent reform, have apparently generated differences between the position of women and men, such that women are at an obvious disadvantage in certain respects. These discrepancies have caused growing concern among the social partners and civil society organisations.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Romania: Trade unions in mining sector threaten strike action

  Although restructuring of the non-ferrous metal mining sector in northern Romania started well over 10 years ago, it continues to be a source of unrest among trade unions in the sector. This is related to collective redundancies and the ever-changing redundancy pay schemes in the mining sector. At present, miners do not know which mines will continue their activities and which mines are set to close.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Sweden: European Court exempts construction workers from wage monitoring fees

  A recent case brought before the European Court of Human Rights represents an important element in the ongoing bargaining round to reach a collective agreement between the Building Workers’ Union and the Swedish Construction Federation. The court’s ruling in this case allowed five workers the right not to pay the wage monitoring fee to the trade union. However, confusion has arisen on how to interpret the court ruling in terms of who will now have to pay the monitoring fee and how this issue will be dealt with in the future.

• 27 Apr 2007
  Slovenia: Trade unions defend autonomy of health insurance institute

  After a lengthy period of negotiations, the government and the social partners agreed on the amendments to the legislation on healthcare and health insurance. One of the most controversial issues of the negotiations related to the proposal of the Ministry of Health to expel representatives of trade unions and employer organisations with voluntary membership from the governing body of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, thereby abolishing the institute’s autonomy. During the negotiations, the trade unions succeeded in changing the government’s proposal.

• 27 Apr 2007
  United Kingdom: New public sector equality provisions take effect

  The imposition on public authorities of ‘equality duties’ regarding race, disability and gender represents an important development in British equality legislation. In early April 2007, the gender duty, which applies to public authorities in their role as employers as well as service providers, came into effect. The duty relating to disability came into effect prior to this in December 2006. These duties follow on from the duty on race, which was introduced in 2002.

• 27 Apr 2007
  United Kingdom: Unions target private equity companies in campaign against asset stripping

  The growing influence of private equity companies has been strongly attacked by trade unions concerned that debt-financed investment is being used to avoid socially responsible corporate behaviour. Permira, one of Europe’s largest private equity firms, has taken the unprecedented step of meeting the GMB general trade union to discuss its concerns. However, this is unlikely to end calls for reform and regulation of the industry.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Italy: New national collective agreement for domestic workers

  On 13 February 2007, trade unions and employer organisations reached consensus on a new national collective agreement for domestic workers in Italy. The agreement defines a new professional classification for workers, introduces new regulations concerning working hours and provides for safeguards in the event of illness, while creating a supplementary pension fund.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Estonia: Civil servants granted pay rise

  For the first time in several years, the government increased the wage rates of civil servants across all wage scales, by 42.4% on average. The Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions has expressed satisfaction with this rise in wage rates, but is not happy with the fact that such increases were not collectively agreed.

• 23 Apr 2007
  EU Level: Social agenda of German EU presidency

  ‘Shaping Europe’s social future’ is one of the topics outlined in the government’s programme for the German EU presidency, focusing on issues such as ‘flexicurity’ and equal opportunities in the labour market. While trade unions and social non-governmental organisations have called into question Germany’s plans to promote ‘good work’ for all, the first informal meeting in January and a conference on the European social model in February aimed to facilitate a more precise understanding of what Germany hopes to achieve with regard to social and employment policy.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Finland: Union campaign to promote voting activity sparks anger

  In the run-up to the parliamentary election in March 2007, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) invested €300,000 in a campaign to promote voting activity. However, the organisation was forced to cancel its planned political television advertising campaign, which was aimed at encouraging members of trade unions to vote in the parliamentary election. Entrepreneurs, in particular, were annoyed and offended by the content of the TV advertisements. The Confederation of Finnish Industries has accused SAK of contributing to party politics which affect the prominent position of labour market organisation.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Finland: Difficult negotiations on new collective agreements in food industry

  The current central incomes policy agreement covers about 90% of all sectors. One major sector that has not been included in the two previous national agreements on incomes policy has been the food industry. All five collective agreements for different subsectors of the industry, concluded by the Finnish Food Workers’ Union and the Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation, expired on 28 February 2007.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Luxembourg: Trade unions fear threat to social dialogue model at Arcelor Mittal

  In recent months, the two major trade unions in Luxembourg, the Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions, have expressed concerns about the new management style at the Arcelor Mittal group, which they believe poses a threat to the country’s traditional social dialogue model. The trade unions have recorded a growing number of complaints coming from the group’s companies and believe that the management lacks the proper negotiation skills capable of dealing with such complaints. As a result, the unions have indicated their willingness to mobilise their representatives and activists in an effort to preserve the quality of social dialogue within the company.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Luxembourg: Trade unions take action after announced closure of Technicolor plant

  On 17 January 2007, workers at Technicolor in Luxembourg and Wales were informed by their respective managements of the decision to close the two plants. The unions immediately got in touch with their UK colleagues to consider joint legal action at European level. In the meantime, the European works council at Thomson – Technicolor’s parent company – asked the group’s management to suspend the effects of the announced closure of the two plants, requesting that an expert analyse the group’s strategic plan with the members of the council and provide guidance in working out a common set of measures for the workers due to be made redundant. For their part, the trade unions in Luxembourg have not ruled out the idea of taking legal action.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Luxembourg: Social partner debate draft bill on single status for workers

  Following the decision of the tripartite committee to introduce a single status for blue and white-collar workers in Luxembourg as of January 2009, the ministers for employment and health have been given the task of drawing up a draft bill for its implementation. The government is eager for the planned legislation to go ahead, since the distinction between white and blue-collar workers is outdated. Therefore, it is calling on the social partners to reach a compromise on the issue.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Luxembourg: Dispute about agreement in financial services sector escalates

  On 17 October 2006, negotiations began on the renewal of the collective agreement in the financial services sector. After a series of difficult meetings, the trade unions decided to leave the negotiating table in mid January 2007. The cause of the breakdown in negotiations relates mainly to the employers’ demands for the introduction of a new system of performance-based pay. The trade unions involved in the negotiations accuse the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association, which represents the employers, of seeking to relax its position in 2007 in order to make it easier to impose its requirements in 2008.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Poland: Unions in energy sector threaten strike action over employee shares

  The National Energy Workers’ Section of the NSZZ Solidarność trade union is planning to hold a referendum on whether to call a general strike. The union activists maintain that the government has not been fulfilling its obligations under the agreements on the de-merger of energy distribution systems. Moreover, they contend that the government has not honoured the right of employees to convert their shares into securities issued by the companies created during the organisational transformation of the Polish energy sector.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Poland: Ongoing dispute at fertiliser production plant

  In early February 2007, trade union representatives active at the Zakłady Chemiczne Police chemical fertiliser plant in Poland announced that they would resort to strike action if their pay demands were not met by 13 February 2007. Subsequently, the strike was postponed and further talks began on 19 February. The unions have been negotiating with the plant’s management since 15 January, but to date no resolution has yet been achieved.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Belgium: Workers accept social plan following redundancies at Arjo Wiggins

  In September 2006, the paper pulp manufacturer Arjo Wiggins Belgium announced the closure of one of its two Belgian sites and the mass redundancies of 147 permanent workers and 80 temporary workers. After a month of strikes and collective bargaining following the announcement, the social partners have finally reached an agreement on the proposal set out by the federal ombuds office. This agreement represents a step forward with regard to the rights of temporary workers and the status of manual workers.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: Government to grant residence permits to selected foreign workers

  The Czech Republic is offering selected qualified foreign workers the option of obtaining permanent residence permits after only two and a half years of living and working in the country, compared with the normal period of five years. The project participants will benefit from a 30-day protection period in the Czech Republic in order to find a new job, unless they had lost their previous job through their own fault. Permanent residence is also offered to the participant’s family, provided the participant passes all relevant tests.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: Shortage of hospital doctors due to new Labour Code provisions

  Amendments to the Labour Code mean that hospitals have less recourse to overtime on the part of doctors and must pay the same rate for work on standby as for standard working hours. The primary aim of the reform was to improve the quality of medical care by ensuring that doctors would not be too tired to work during excessive periods of overtime. Nevertheless, the situation has incurred substantial costs for employers, and some hospitals are negotiating separate agreements with doctors in order to avoid staff shortages.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Germany: Decline in union membership levels in 2006 less acute than in previous years

  According to the latest figures from the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), the membership levels of its affiliated trade unions dropped by 2.8% in 2006, falling to 6.59 million members. However, although overall membership levels continued to decline, most DGB affiliated unions managed to at least minimise their losses compared with previous years. The German Metalworkers’ Union remained the largest DGB-affiliate with 2.33 million members, followed by the United Services Union with 2.28 million members. The proportion of women who are union members remained almost the same at 31.9%. Some 7% of members are aged 27 years or under.

• 23 Apr 2007
  Germany: Impact of company relocations on working conditions

  In March 2007, the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) published a study on the effects of company relocations on works councils and employees. The findings are based on the 2004–2005 WSI works council survey, which covers up to 2,000 private sector companies with at least 20 employees. The survey represents the first data collection and analysis of the position of works councils with regard to the experience of relocation. The findings show that, in Germany, the threat of relocation is more widespread than actual relocation. It also reveals that works councils are under considerable pressure to agree to cutbacks in relation to working conditions, working time and pay.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Luxembourg: Procedure for authorising overtime simplified

  Since 1 January 2007, the procedure for companies obtaining authorisation for overtime has been simplified. From now on, if the employee representatives in a company, or the affected employees themselves in the absence of employee representation, give their consent to work overtime, authorisation will be automatic.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Portugal: Compulsory arbitration procedure launched

  In September 2006, for the first time since the restoration of democracy in 1974, the system of compulsory arbitration was used in Portugal. Between September 2006 and the beginning of 2007, nine compulsory arbitration processes have taken place. Compulsory arbitration may be invoked wherever it has proved impossible to resolve a dispute through voluntary conciliation, mediation or arbitration. The system came into force in 2004, under the 2003 Labour Code and Law No. 35/2004, with the final conditions being determined in autumn 2006.

• 10 Apr 2007
  EU Level: Trade unions more involved in European workplaces

  The ‘2006 Industrial relations in Europe’ report highlights that the decentralisation of collective bargaining, together with a decline in trade union density levels, is forcing trade unions to become more actively involved in the European workplace. The report suggests, however, that the growth of decentralisation does not mean an abandonment of sector and branch level collective negotiations.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Ireland: Major disputes in healthcare sector

  In the context of the forthcoming general election, the Irish government is facing a number of major problems in the healthcare sector, which are also a test of the social partnership system and the current national agreement ‘Towards 2016’. In light of the general elections in May or June this year, the government seeks to establish a special high-level forum to settle the disputes with the organisations representing consultants and nurses in the sector.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Italy: Working towards equal opportunities for women in employment

  In early December 2006, the Italian Ministry of Labour launched a 12-month project, which aims to study gender pay differences and to increase the presence of women in the labour market. The project will be implemented in 2007, in line with the ‘European year of equal opportunities for all’.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Netherlands: Social partners welcome coalition government’s agreement

  The new government presented its coalition agreement at the beginning of February 2007. The agreement concluded by the Christian Democratic Alliance, the Labour Party and the Christian Union has received a positive response from the social partners. Employer organisations are pleased with the additional resources for stimulating business, while trade unions are enthusiastic about the attention given to the creation of new jobs.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Poland: Dispute over pay at Fiat-GM plant

  In late January 2007, the NSZZ Solidarność trade union, representing part of the workforce at the Fiat-GM Powertrain plant in southern Poland, entered into a pay dispute with the company’s management. In the following month, tensions escalated further after the company fired four employees, a move which NSZZ Solidarność perceived as an attempt to intimidate employees who wished to join the union. However, the company has strongly denied such a claim.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Portugal: Flexicurity debate generates mixed response

  In September 2006, the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity launched a debate on the issue of ‘flexicurity’ among experts and social partners in Portugal. The Minister of Labour and Social Solidarity stated that the flexicurity model of the Nordic countries cannot be automatically applied in other EU Member States and pointed to the importance of allowing for the active participation of the social partners in this debate. The ongoing discussion on flexicurity constitutes an extremely important issue for the reform of labour legislation in Portugal, which is set to be concluded by the end of 2007.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Belgium: Social partners conclude intersectoral agreement for 2007-2008

  In December 2006, the social partners in the private sector agreed a comprehensive national intersectoral agreement for the period 2007–2008. The agreement contains an extensive range of measures in relation to recommendations for the future and new provisions regarding wages and working conditions.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Austria: Government seeks more working time flexibility

  In January 2007, as part of its programme for the coming legislative period 2007–2010, the new coalition government adopted a joint social partner proposal for the ‘flexibilisation’ of working time. However, the trade unions and government differ somewhat in their interpretation of the government agenda’s provisions on how to amend Austria’s working time regime.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Belgium: Atypical collective agreement concluded in textiles sector

  Due to sector-specific financial problems regarding the social benefit system, the textiles sector concluded a national collective agreement on 30 November 2006 – well before the other sectors had done so and in advance of the national intersectoral ‘pace-setting’ agreement being finalised. Another unusual feature of the collective agreement in the textiles sector is that it covers a four-year period rather than the normal two years.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: New technology and respect for privacy at the workplace

  The use of new information and communication technologies (ICT) at the workplace has spread rapidly in recent years, raising numerous issues for employers, employees and their representatives, especially in terms of the relationship between workers’ privacy and employers’ need to control and monitor the use of ICT. This article examines current legislation in the Czech Republic, which is specifically aimed at the issue of privacy at the workplace and which tries to strike a balance between employees’ and employers’ rights in relation to this matter.

• 10 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: Companies receive health and safety awards

  In 2006, a total of 14 enterprises met the requirements of the ‘Safe enterprise programme’, achieving recognition for being a ‘safe enterprise’. The programme, which was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 1996, aims to promote cooperation between employees and company management in improving safety at work.

• 02 Apr 2007
  EU Level: EU Council endorses Commission’s decent work agenda

  On 1 December 2006, the European Council endorsed the European Commission’s proposals to strengthen EU policies, actions and programmes aimed at promoting ‘decent work’ both within and outside of the European Union. It is thought that the spread of and compliance with certain standards of decent work will not only foster the main principles of the European social model, but will also help EU Member States to confront the challenges of global competition.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: New collective agreement at Czech Railways

  On 21 December 2006, a new company-level collective agreement for 2007 was signed at the Prague headquarters of Czech Railways. The agreement, which governs relations between the contractual parties in 2007, took more than two months to negotiate. Among the provisions of the agreement is a 7% increase in tariff wages for employees at Czech Railways - the largest employer in the Czech Republic.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Czech Republic: Czech manufacturer awarded EU grant for company management project

  The Czech manufacturer of traditional household appliances, ETA a.s., located in the town of Hlinsko in the centre of the Czech Republic, has been awarded a subsidy from the European Social Fund (ESF) for one of its projects. The project, entitled ‘Introduction of a process management system and subsequent implementation of the Balanced Score Card (BSC) method at ETA a.s.’, aims to increase the potential of the workforce and ensure a more efficient company management. The project will be implemented over the two-year period 2007-2008.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Denmark: Union to set up complaints board as part of good practice rules

  The trade union for employees working in financial services, Finansforbundet, has drawn up a set of rules pertaining to good governance for trade unions. Inspired by the philosophy of good company management as part of the concept of corporate governance, Finansforbundet has translated its own terms of good management into the notion of union governance. Among other elements, the trade union has introduced a complaints board where dissatisfied members can have their case reviewed by an impartial lawyer. Moreover, the union aims to ensure greater accountability and a wider representation of membership interests.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Estonia: Agreement reached on minimum wage increase in healthcare sector

  On 25 January 2007, an agreement was reached to raise minimum wages in the health and social work sector by 25%. The negotiations had been protracted and almost culminated in a strike, which was averted through the mediation of the Public Conciliator. Discussions are continuing in relation to other conditions of the collective agreement.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Hungary: Reorganisation in Social Affairs Ministry aimed at greater efficiency

  Further to the merger of the ministries in charge of social affairs, equal opportunities and employment policy, which took place in mid 2006, a new wave of reorganisation is underway in different service units affiliated to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. Among other units, the Public Employment Service, the Labour Inspectorate, the Sectoral Social Dialogue Centre, and the Mediation and Arbitration Service are currently undergoing major organisational changes.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Hungary: Unions protest over plan to cut employee benefits in electricity and railway sectors

  Trade unions in the electricity sector and at the Hungarian State Railways called strikes for the beginning of February 2007 in response to the government’s attempts to eliminate long established employee benefits. The Ministry of Economy and Transport took issue with the special preferential price of electricity for employees and pensioners in the electricity sector; this benefit is also endangered by the liberalisation of the industry in July 2007. Moreover, the separate healthcare plan for railway employees may be abolished in the government’s radical reform of the entire healthcare system. A two-hour warning strike took place in the electricity sector on 6 February but the planned warning strike in the railways sector has been deferred pending the outcome of further negotiations.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Ireland: Supreme Court ruling will affect ‘right to bargain’ law

  A recent judgement by the Supreme Court concerned a case between the independent airline, Ryanair, the Labour Court and the Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union. The ruling is likely to have major implications for the ability of trade unions to process claims on behalf of members in non-union companies under the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2001 and the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Lithuania: New sectoral agreement signed in print media sector

  On 19 January 2007, the second ever sectoral collective agreement was signed in Lithuania. It regulates the conditions of work and remuneration of journalists working for national newspapers.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Lithuania: Social partners raise concerns about proposed new trade union law

  Several of the majority trade union organisations have submitted draft amendments and modifications to the Law on Trade Unions for consideration by the social partners. Although the social partners have supported the draft in principle, concerns have been raised in relation to some of the draft law’s provisions, including those concerning trade union membership.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Lithuania: Union confederation reorganisation marked by cooperation and mergers

  The beginning of 2007 saw a number of significant actions that will influence the reorganisation of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation (LPSK). After receiving funding for the development of regional social dialogue, LPSK started discussions pertaining to the strengthening of regional trade union organisations; three sectoral trade unions of LPSK and one independent trade union have declared their intention to merge.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Malta: Employers opppose plan to extend family-friendly measures to public service

  While there is a wide-ranging consensus among the Maltese social partners about the principle of family-friendly measures for workers, employers are wary of the additional strain that such measures may put on the economic viability of companies. Indeed, while the government’s proposal to extend some family-friendly measures within the civil service to the whole public sector has been welcomed by the Union of United Workers, it has been criticised by the Malta Employers’ Association.

• 02 Apr 2007
  Sweden: Decline in membership of unemployment insurance fund due to changes in system

  Trade unions are already beginning to witness the effects of the recent amendments to the country’s unemployment insurance system, introduced by the new government on 1 January 2007. The amendments have resulted in increased membership fees and stricter qualification requirements for receipt of benefits, along with lower compensation levels. As a result, trade unions have started to notice a fall-off in members of the unemployment insurance fund.

• 02 Apr 2007
  United Kingdom: Government evaluates facilities and time off of workplace representatives

  In January 2007, the government published a consultation document as part of a major review of the time off, training and facilities provided to the UK’s 350,000 union and non-union workplace representatives.