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EU Level developments

• 22 Dec 2008
  EU Level: European trade unionists react to restructuring plans at Siemens

  German engineering group Siemens wants to cut 16,750 jobs from its 400,000 global workforce. The job reductions will affect all segments of the group and production sites in various European countries. European Works Council members and trade union representatives met for two coordination meetings organised by the European Metalworkers’ Federation in order to develop a trade union response.

• 22 Dec 2008
  EU Level: Turmoil in Germany’s financial services sector

  Germany’s financial services sector has faced over a year of turmoil with a series of mergers, takeovers and rescue packages required to maintain the viability of a number of major companies. This article looks at the impact of restructuring within the sector in the light of the deepening global financial crisis. Germany’s finance minister has called for a review of the national banking system, while the International Monetary Fund sis in favour of a reform of the sector.

• 24 Nov 2008
  EU Level: Social partners give advice on European Works Council ‘recast’ directive

  In late August 2008, the European social partners submitted a joint advice on the European Works Council ‘recast’ directive to the French Minister for Labour, Social Affairs and Solidarity. They accepted the Commission’s proposal as a basis for the revision of the directive and included an agreed list of possible changes to the proposal. Meanwhile, the social partners and the parliament’s rapporteur support a fast revision procedure based on this common position.

• 14 Nov 2008
  EU Level: Proposals to improve maternity rights and childcare

  In October 2008, the European Commission published its proposals for improved paid maternity leave for Europe’s working women. In the same month, it also published a report on childcare facilities in the EU. While the social partners have generally welcomed the new proposals, they remain divided about certain aspects, such as extending maternity leave. Regarding childcare, the Commission concludes that childcare services are failing to respond to parents’ needs.

• 04 Nov 2008
  EU Level: International framework agreement on labour rights signed at Danske Bank

  In September 2008, UNI global union signed an international framework agreement on fundamental labour rights with the Danish-based finance multinational Danske Bank. The agreement was negotiated by UNI Finance with the help of six trade unions in the Nordic countries and Ireland. It recognises the competitive benefit for the company of good relations with trade unions and guarantees labour rights for workers worldwide.

• 15 Oct 2008
  EU Level: Political agreement reached on working time and temporary work directives

  On 10 June 2008, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council reached political agreement on two controversial draft directives. The amended working time directive distinguishes between active and inactive ‘on-call’ time, and sets new rules for the opt-out from the standard maximum limit of 48 working hours a week. The temporary agency work directive is based on the principle of equal treatment as of day one for temporary agency workers.

• 22 Sep 2008
  EU Level: EU Court limits Member States’ law-making powers

  In June 2008, the European Court of Justice delivered a further ruling in relation to undertakings operating in other EU Member States. The ruling holds that the legislative powers of Member States must be interpreted narrowly and limited to those issues where a public policy necessity is demonstrated. The court states that responsibility for monitoring compliance with directives lies primarily in the country in which the undertaking is established.

• 22 Sep 2008
  EU Level: Commission reviews social partner agreement on teleworking

  In July 2008, the European Commission issued a report on the outcome of the 2002 telework agreement. It concludes that while the agreement has been successful – with key provisions being implemented in 21 Member States – there is still scope for improvement. Areas for improvement include a more extensive definition of telework, ensuring equal treatment for teleworkers, and increasing awareness of the agreement among certain groups and countries.

• 22 Sep 2008
  EU Level: Maritime agreement to form basis of new EU directive

  In May 2008, the social partners in the maritime shipping industry concluded an agreement to improve working conditions for over 300,000 maritime workers across Europe. In July, the European Commission proposed a new directive to ensure that the agreement’s terms are transposed into national laws. The Commission is due to present a communication on maritime transport by the end of the year, outlining the opportunities and challenges for the industry over the next 10 years.

• 15 Sep 2008
  EU Level: Commission adopts proposal for improved EWC directive

  On 2 July 2008, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal for a revised directive on European Works Councils (EWCs) as part of its renewed social agenda. The proposal aims to better define the competencies of EWCs, linking the national and European levels of information and consultation, and ensuring legal certainty regarding the set-up and the functioning of EWCs. Social partners have given mixed reactions to the proposal.

• 15 Sep 2008
  EU Level: International framework agreement on health and safety signed at ArcelorMittal

  In early June 2008, the world’s largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, and trade unions representing its employees at global level signed an international framework agreement to further improve health and safety standards throughout the company. The agreement recognises the vital role played by trade unions in improving workplace health and safety. It sets out minimum standards in every site which the company operates in order to improve the health and safety performance.

• 03 Jul 2008
  EU Level: Social partners issue joint declaration on draft EU directive for temporary agency workers

  The European social partners for the temporary agency work sector, Eurociett and UNI-Europa, have reached an agreement on a joint declaration on the draft directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers. The agreement urges the European Union to set a regulatory framework for temporary agency work, applying the equal treatment principle for temporary agency workers with regard to their basic working and employment conditions.

• 11 Jun 2008
  EU Level: Code of conduct on cross-border recruitment in European hospitals

  On 7 April 2008, the European social partners engaged in hospital activities signed a code of conduct on ethical cross-border recruitment and retention in this subsector of health and social work. On the basis of the agreement, the social partners are committed to promoting ethical recruitment practices in hospitals at European, national, regional and local level. The code also sets out particular requirements in terms of implementation, monitoring and follow-up.

• 03 Jun 2008
  EU Level: ETUC launches fair wages campaign across Europe

  The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) recently launched its fair wages campaign, aimed at highlighting the fact that about 30 million workers in Europe receive low wages. In addition to the ethical issue associated with low pay, ETUC argues that the ending of wage moderation is a major requirement to create more jobs. In fact, given the current global economic climate, the trade unions believe that continued low pay could lead to recession.

• 29 May 2008
  EU Level: European Court rules that pay terms cannot be fixed in public tenders

  In the recent case of Dirk Rüffert versus Land Niedersachsen, the European Court of Justice ruled that it is unlawful and contrary to EU law to set out, within tender requirements, obligations beyond those established by law regarding the pay and conditions of public contract workers. Trade unions have strongly criticised the judgement, arguing that it prioritises the free movement of services over national labour regulations.

• 29 May 2008
  EU Level: European Court ruling upholds applicability of EU law on fixed-term workers at national level

  A ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in mid April 2008 sets out the jurisdiction of national specialised labour courts and their obligations to decide on claims based on EU law. The ECJ ruling also impacts on the definition of ‘employment conditions’, which includes pay and pensions that are dependent on an employment relationship. Both the European Trade Union Confederation and the Irish Municipal Public and Civil Trade Union welcomed the ECJ ruling.

• 19 May 2008
  EU Level: European Employees Forum react to General Motors outsourcing plans

  General Motors (GM) is attempting to push through outsourcing plans that could lead to extensive redundancies within the company throughout western European countries. GM’s European Employee Forum has responded to such a move by demanding that management respect existing agreements and conclude a European framework agreement on restructuring – a demand first made by employee representatives in April 2007.

• 08 May 2008
  EU Level: Spring EU Summit prioritises social aspects of Lisbon Agenda

  At the annual Spring European Summit, held this year in March 2008, the priorities for the last three years of the Lisbon process were endorsed. These new priorities place a greater focus on the social aspects of the Lisbon Strategy and have been coined as a ‘social makeover’ of the strategy. Priority issues include an increased focus on flexicurity and greater efforts to increase social inclusion, education levels and lifelong learning.

• 30 Apr 2008
  EU Level: Commission launches new consultation on revision of EWC Directive

  In February 2008, the European Commission invited social partners to consult on the revision of the 1994 Council Directive on European Works Councils (EWCs) – one of its legislative priorities for 2008. With this long-awaited step, the process of revising the EWCs Directive enters a new and decisive phase. The European Trade Union Confederation and other European trade unions welcomed the second-phase consultation, while BusinessEurope has opposed this step.

• 14 Apr 2008
  EU Level: Tour operators seek return to 12-day work period for drivers

  The current dispute involving the International Road Transport Union, which represents employers, and the European Transport Workers’ Federation concerns the 2006 regulation on road transport. Employers are particularly critical of the legislation’s provisions in relation to the maximum number of working days. Currently set at six days, employers claim that the restrictive nature of the legislation is driving costs up in the industry.

• 07 Apr 2008
  EU Level: Agreement on temporary agency work and working time directives shelved

  The Portuguese EU Presidency had planned to reach an agreement on a directive regulating temporary agency work and on a revised version of the working time directive at the December meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of Ministers. However, an agreement was not reached, mainly because of resistance on the part of the UK government. The French EU Presidency later in 2008 offers the next likely chance of a result.

• 07 Apr 2008
  EU Level: European Parliament keen to strengthen social dimension of EU employment guidelines

  On 8 February 2008, the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs published a draft report in response to the European Commission’s proposal on the employment guidelines for 2008–2010, to be adopted by the Council of the European Union. The draft report proposes amendments designed to strengthen the social dimension of the employment guidelines. A final version of the report is due in May 2008

• 24 Mar 2008
  EU Level: EU moves closer to liberalisation of postal services

  The draft directive on the liberalisation of postal services in the EU, endorsed by the European Parliament on 31 January 2008, represents a move designed to challenge Member State’s monopoly in this important market. The directive’s critics argue that it will lead to the promotion of social dumping, thus undermining postal workers’ terms and conditions of employment. Those in favour of the directive, however, claim that this final draft attempts to alleviate such fears.

• 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.

• 21 Jan 2008
  EU Level: Journalists highlight poor employment conditions and decline in standards

  An array of employment changes facing journalists is threatening to plunge the media into crisis, according to the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ). These changes have led to both a decline in journalists’ working conditions and their ability to offer a quality product. In an attempt to tackle the fall in journalistic standards, EFJ has launched the ‘Stand up for journalism’ campaign to highlight the problems being faced by journalists.