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February 2008

• 25 Feb 2008
  Greece: Forced landing for Olympic Airlines

  In early 2008, the closure of Greece’s Olympic Airlines in its present form and the creation of a new company with fewer employees appear increasingly likely. This arguably seems to be the government’s only solution, following a decision by the European Commission that the company must return to the Greek state the €540 million subsidies it obtained in the 1998–2004 period. The workforce of Olympic Airlines has expressed concerns about the government’s plans.

• 25 Feb 2008
  EU Level: Unions fear ECJ ruling in Laval case could lead to social dumping

  At the end of 2007, the European Court of Justice released its ruling on the Laval case. It states that the Latvian company, Laval, which posted workers to Sweden, is not required to adhere to the collective agreement within the Swedish construction industry. This decision relates directly to the scope of the EU directive on posted workers. According to some commentators, the ruling goes against the directive’s aims and could represent a landmark in the promotion of wage dumping.

• 25 Feb 2008
  Finland: Work of underpaid Polish construction workers suspended

  A Finnish construction company has called a halt to work carried out by a Polish subcontractor at the building site of the Helsinki Music Centre, after articles in the press stated that Polish construction workers had been paid less than €2 an hour at the site. The representative trade union in the construction sector had already protested against the Polish building company Ekomel operating as a subcontractor at Finnish building sites.

• 25 Feb 2008
  Czech Republic: Changes to insurance system curtail sickness benefits

  In January 2008, several important changes to the sickness insurance system took effect. These changes result from Act No. 261/2007 Coll. on the stabilisation of public finances and are mainly designed to reduce public expenditure in the social domain. Meanwhile, the implementation of the new sickness insurance act has been postponed for another year. Trade unions and the main opposition party strongly oppose the changes to the sickness insurance system.

• 18 Feb 2008
  Slovenia: Change in rules of conduct and composition of Economic and Social Council

  The composition of the Economic and Social Council of Slovenia (ESSS) has changed, following the government and social partners’ adoption of the newly amended Rules of Conduct of the ESSS in June 2007. At present, there are seven employer and government representatives respectively, along with eight trade union representatives on the council..

• 18 Feb 2008
  Belgium: Telework as an element of social dialogue at Dexia bank

  A number of years ago, Dexia bank and its employees signed a comprehensive collective agreement on telework in the context of restructuring following several mergers. The idea behind this agreement was to enable people to work either close to or at home. The agreement constituted an opportunity to further develop social dialogue and to reflect on mobility issues – a process which is still ongoing.

• 18 Feb 2008
  Slovenia: General strike in private sector likely to go ahead

  In November 2007, all six private sector trade union confederations organised a mass rally in Ljubljana. They demanded higher pay, a fairer distribution of high company profits in light of strong GDP growth, rising inflation and living costs. In January 2008, a compromise seemed to be reached when social partners concluded a tentative agreement on an extraordinary pay adjustment. However, when legal experts from both sides began to draft the collective agreement, disagreements erupted anew.

• 18 Feb 2008
  Estonia: Wage rise and change in working time for rescue workers

  In order to cope with the low wage levels and continuous lack of rescue workers, a collective agreement was concluded in December 2007 between the Ministry of Interior and the Confederation of Trade Unions of State and Local Government Employees. The agreement provides for higher wage levels and new working time arrangements for rescue workers. Despite the initial opposition, the new working time arrangements seem to have been accepted due to increased wage levels.

• 18 Feb 2008
  Hungary: General Electric employees protest at planned relocation

  General Electric is planning to cease production of certain types of lamps at its Vác and Kisvárda manufacturing plants due to increased production costs. The Independent Trade Union of Tungsram Workers stated that about 600–700 employees might lose their jobs in 2008 as a result of the company’s plans to relocate production to China. In protest, the union held a demonstration in front of the company’s headquarters in Budapest and staged a 30-minute warning strike at the Vác plant.

• 18 Feb 2008
  Luxembourg: New committee to monitor labour market and working conditions

  As part of the reform of the Labour and Mines Inspectorate which has been ongoing for some years, the Luxembourg labour inspection system has acquired a new tripartite body: the Standing Committee on Labour and Employment. This committee will be in charge of regularly examining the current situation in relation to employment and unemployment, working conditions, as well as workers’ health and safety. A pre-judicial employment conciliation body has also been established.

• 11 Feb 2008
  United Kingdom: Telework in the United Kingdom

  Official statistics indicate that the incidence and rate of telework in the UK continue to grow, thereby supporting other sources of evidence on organisational responsiveness to and employee take-up of teleworking. This article updates statistical information on telework in the UK and describes implementation measures, social partner reactions, as well as likely trends and their implications for different stakeholders.

• 11 Feb 2008
  Romania: Court rules in favour of teachers’ minimum wage claims

  Following legal action taken by a local branch of the Independent Trade Union in Education in the Dolj county in southwest Romania, the county’s court ruled that all educational establishments in Dolj must comply with the national collective agreement and pay trade union members holding a masters degree a gross minimum monthly wage of RON 880 (€233) as of 1 January 2007. The court’s decision sets a precedent that may trigger a chain reaction regarding salaries within the entire education sector.

• 11 Feb 2008
  Romania: Government launches new national strategy on migration

  In early October 2007, the Romanian government adopted the ‘National strategy on migration for 2007–2010’. Romania’s accession to the European Union in January 2007 and the new approach to migration in the EU context have made this step necessary, following the previous 2004 strategy on migration. The new strategy focuses on the government’s aims regarding controlled immigration, prevention and control of illegal immigration, asylum and social integration of immigrants.

• 11 Feb 2008
  Bulgaria: Social partners agree high social security thresholds for 2008

  For the first time since 2003, when the minimum social security thresholds were introduced, the average increase for 73 economic activities and nine occupational groups reached 25.7%, and over 30% for some activities and categories of personnel. Employers and trade unions agree that the annual negotiation of the minimum social security thresholds is one of the most important tools for curtailing the grey economy and increasing the revenues in the social security funds.

• 11 Feb 2008
  Luxembourg: Mixed views on the law regulating working hours in the road transport sector

  The Chamber of Deputies has just passed a law transposing the 2002 Road Transport Directive into national legislation. The decision, coming two and a half years after the deadline for transposition, has been received with relief by the sectoral trade union. Negotiations for the renewal of collective agreements were frozen throughout this period. The differing views and interpretations of the proposed text were closely scrutinised by the Chamber’s Work and Employment Committee.

• 05 Feb 2008
  United Kingdom: Government sets out legislative plans in the employment and social arena

  In November 2007, the UK's Labour government announced plans for new legislation on employment, work-life balance, pensions and training in the Queen's Speech that traditionally marks the opening of each new parliamentary session. Employers' groups and trade unions reacted positively to the measures announced, although the Confederation of British Industry warned that the government should be wary of the implications of increasing the number of workers eligible to request flexible working too quickly.

• 05 Feb 2008
  Denmark: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector — Denmark

  This is the Danish contribution to the Representativeness CAR on the gas sector.

• 05 Feb 2008
  EU Countries: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector

  This report examines the operations of the social partner organisations and collective bargaining in the gas sector. The first part outlines the general economic background. The next part analyses the social partner organisations in the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of Cyprus. Particular emphasis is placed on membership of social partner organisations, their role in collective bargaining and public policy, and their national and European affiliations. The third and final part of the report examines the relevant European associations, in particular the composition of their membership and their capacity to negotiate. The aim of the EIRO series of studies on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and supranational social partner organisations in the field of industrial relations in selected sectors. The impetus for these studies arises from the goal of the European Commission to recognise the representative social partner organisations to be consulted under the EC Treaty provisions. Hence, this study is designed to provide basic information required to establish sectoral social dialogue.

• 04 Feb 2008
  France: Government launches tripartite conferences and consultations on social reforms

  In October and November 2007, the French government organised two tripartite conferences on social policy issues to prepare for reforms in the areas of working conditions and gender equality. At the same time, a ‘series of discussions’ began between the government and the social partners on the themes of employment and purchasing power. The government warned that if no agreements could be reached between the social partners, it would draw up its own reform proposals.

• 04 Feb 2008
  France: Sale of newspaper raises concern over editorial independence

  In November 2007, the sale of the daily business newspaper, Les Échos, to the French luxury goods group, Louis Vuitton Moët-Hennessy, led to a strike of the newspaper’s journalists on 5 and 6 November 2007. They thus demonstrated their concern about both the consequences of the sale for jobs and its impact on editorial independence, including a possible conflict of interest with the buyer’s business interests.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Greece: Telework in Greece

  Telework is not well developed in Greece. Although data is lacking on the prevalence of telework, some findings estimate that as few as 1.1% of companies use such a practice. Although the social partners maintain a generally positive view of telework, trade unions have concerns about the nature of telework agreements, while employers are concerned about the growth of telework. As a result, it is argued that a more specific regulatory framework is needed.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Hungary: Rail unions hold warning strikes in protest at closure of railway lines

  In an attempt to reduce costs, the government is continuing to close underutilised rural railway lines. The trade unions representing railway workers strongly oppose such a reduction of services and held two warning strikes to demonstrate their position on the matter. Apart from saving jobs, the unions also draw attention to the general interests of underdeveloped communities served by rural railways. The industrial action was supported by the mayors of the localities concerned.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Hungary: Wage agreement at Hungarian Post averts planned strike action

  An agreement on wage developments for 2008 between the biggest state-owned company, Hungarian Post, and the trade unions was finalised the day before strike action was due to take place. The government used the agreement reached at Hungarian Post to facilitate consensus among social partners at the National Interest Reconciliation Council on recommendations for annual wage increases; it also served as a benchmark for national-level negotiations.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Hungary: Telework in Hungary

  Currently, the proportion of teleworkers in Hungary is modest, and only slowly increasing. Hungary has implemented the EU framework agreement on telework – concluded by the European social partners in 2002 – through legislation pertaining to the employment relationship; however, the majority of teleworkers are self-employed. Over the next two years, the government intends to offer EU-funded subsidies to encourage job creation in telework.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Ireland: Hotels employers’ challenge to wage regulation body could set precedent

  A legal challenge made by the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) to the Joint Labour Committee – which sets legal minimum pay rates for the hotels subsector – could have far-reaching implications for all such pay-setting regulations. If the IHF succeeds in its appeal, this could mean that the only effective minimum wage mechanism for the industry would be the national minimum wage.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Ireland: Agreement seen as milestone for mushroom industry

  A new Registered Employment Agreement between the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union and one of Ireland’s largest mushroom companies is regarded as something of a milestone for the industry. The main elements of the new agreement cover aspects of pay and working time. Minimum pay rates are set for the workers, and conditions relating to productivity-based pay are outlined. Minimum and maximum weekly working hours are also set.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Romania: Proposed reform of law governing employer organisations

  The government put forward a motion for the amendment of the employers’ law, with a view to improving the participation of employer organisations in social dialogue. After debates in the senate, the bill went to the lower house of parliament, where the Academy for Advocacy held a public hearing in September 2007 to encourage wider discussion on the issue. The latter organisation also provided guidance on relevant sources of information and documentation.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Austria: Freelance contractors to get social security cover

  In early December 2007, the Austrian parliament endorsed a series of legislative amendments which aim to substantially improve the social security coverage of people working under a ‘free service contract’. This group of economically dependent workers has, in particular, been included in a compulsory unemployment insurance scheme. The social partners had jointly pushed for such a development.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Czech Republic: New collective agreement signed at Czech Railways

  A company-level collective agreement was successfully concluded at Czech Railways in December 2007 after more than two months of bargaining. The agreement covers about 55,000 employees and provides for substantial wage increases. The agreement is highly significant as it applies to both Czech Railways and its recently established subsidiary Czech Railways Cargo. Moreover, the management of Czech Railways does not envisage further lay-offs of employees in 2008.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Germany: Survey adds fuel to debate over managers’ wages

  A survey by the German Managers’ Confederation shows that the level of managers’ net wages depends on the link between age and career advancement. The responses also suggest that female managers may earn less than their male counterparts. The survey was published in the context of a public debate on the appropriateness of managers’ remuneration in large companies. However, the German chancellor has stated that no regulations on capping salaries are to be introduced.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Germany: Companies use profit sharing as employee incentive device

  A representative survey conducted by the Cologne Institute for Economic Research reveals that companies have implemented profit-sharing schemes mainly in an attempt to boost employee efforts, creativity and willingness to adapt. However, only 11% of companies in manufacturing and affiliated industries share their profits directly with the majority of staff. Adherence to multi-employer collective agreements reduces the likelihood of a profit-sharing scheme being introduced.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Germany: Pay issues to be top of the agenda in 2008 bargaining rounds

  It is expected that the main focus of the 2008 bargaining rounds will be pay issues. According to an overview issued by the Collective Bargaining Archive of the Hans Böckler Foundation, the trade unions’ demands for pay increases in the various sectors of the economy are set to range between 4.5% and 10.2% in the first quarter of 2008. The public sector is the first sector to begin negotiations.

• 04 Feb 2008
  Denmark: Increase in posted workers a challenge for trade unions

  In recent times, a significant increase in the number of construction workers from eastern European countries seriously challenges the country’s well-established industrial relations system. Most of these workers are posted workers, whose wages and working conditions are not regulated by a Danish collective agreement. These are the findings of a study by the Employment Relations Research Centre on eastern European workers employed in the Danish construction sector.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Slovenia: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector — Slovenia

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Slovenia. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Romania: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Romania

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Romania. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Portugal: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – Portugal

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Portugal. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Poland: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Poland

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Poland. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Netherlands: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – the Netherlands

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in the Netherlands. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Luxembourg: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – Luxembourg

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Luxembourg. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Latvia: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Latvia

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Latvia. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Italy: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Italy

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Italy. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Hungary: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – Hungary

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Hungary. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Greece: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Greece

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Greece. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Germany: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – Germany

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Germany. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  France: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –France

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in France. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Czech Republic: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector –Czech Republic

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in the Czech Republic. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.

• 01 Feb 2008
  Bulgaria: Representativeness of the social partners: Gas sector – Bulgaria

  The aim of this representativeness study is to identify the respective national and supranational actors (i.e. trade unions and employer organisations) in the field of industrial relations in the gas sector in Bulgaria. In order to determine their relative importance in the sector’s industrial relations, this study will, in particular, focus on their representational quality as well as on their role in collective bargaining.