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EU Level developments

• 15 Nov 2010
  EU Level: Guidelines for prevention of third party violence and harassment at work

  The European social partners from various sectors adopted guidelines to prevent third-party violence and harassment at work on 30 September 2010. The guidelines encourage employers to establish a clear framework for the prevention and management of violence by third parties in the context of the employment relationship. The social partners have jointly requested the European Commission to support a series of workshops over the next year aimed at disseminating the guidelines.

• 08 Nov 2010
  EU Level: Short-time working prevalent across Member States

  A new report from the European Commission examines the incidence of short-time working across the European Union and in particular the use of this mechanism during the economic crisis as a means of avoiding job losses. The report focuses on state-sponsored schemes, but also shows where the social partners have played a role in determining schemes. It found significant variations in the operation of short-time working schemes between Member States.

• 01 Nov 2010
  EU Level: Mobility toolkit for the European private security sector

  A new mobility toolkit was launched in September 2010 to inform workers and employers in the private security sector about transnational labour issues. The sector is characterised by considerable levels of transnational recruitment, yet the sensitive nature of private security work complicates the tasks performed by the sector’s workforce. This new toolkit offers an overview of national arrangements regarding private security work and transnational employment.

• 25 Oct 2010
  EU Level: Debate on EU framework for managing restructuring

  Restructuring in the workplace is becoming more commonplace across Europe due to economic and technological changes. The European Trade Union Confederation has called on the European Commission to develop an EU-level instrument to manage restructuring. The Commission has indicated that this issue will be addressed in a new industrial policy communication later in 2010 and that it may invite EU-level social partners to negotiate a European framework instrument in this field.

• 19 Oct 2010
  EU Level: Commission issues report on EU-level sectoral social dialogue

  In July 2010, the European Commission issued a working document on the achievements and functioning of the sectoral social dialogue at EU level. Overall, since 1998, a total of 40 sectoral social dialogue committees have been created, covering 145 million workers around the EU. The document contains a full list of the sectors covered by these committees and the texts that have been negotiated. It also identifies possible improvements to the quality and scope of the dialogue process.

• 17 Sep 2010
  EU Level: Extended international framework agreement at PSA Peugeot Citroën

  During summer 2010, an international framework agreement was renewed by the International Metalworkers’ Federation, the European Metalworkers’ Federation and PSA Peugeot Citroën. The new agreement strengthens PSA Peugeot Citroën’s commitments to international core labour standards and asks business partners to follow suit. It also establishes a World Works Council and gives unions a role in implementing environmental protection and sustainable development objectives.

• 10 Sep 2010
  EU Level: European Framework Agreement on employment guarantees at Alstom and Schneider Electric

  The first-ever European collective bargaining agreement involving two companies – Alstom and Schneider Electric – was concluded with the European Metalworkers’ Federation in July 2010. The agreement sets out social commitments about how employees of energy transmission and distribution company Areva T&D will be treated following its acquisition by the two companies. It also includes a commitment to avoid plant closures and compulsory redundancies for three years.

• 03 Sep 2010
  EU Level: Social dialogue committee launched in education sector

  The European Commission has launched a new social dialogue committee for the education sector after four years of campaigning by unions to bring the social partners in the sector together. Its first plenary session took place in Brussels on 11 June 2010 and the new committee will address a range of relevant issues, including the teaching, working and learning environment, the impact of demographic trends on the sector, budgetary constraints and recruitment and retention issues.

• 10 Aug 2010
  EU Level: New directive enhances social rights for self-employed workers

  EU employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs ministers met in early June 2010 to discuss a range of employment-related issues. One of the main social policy innovations was a directive that will strengthen equality between self-employed men and women. The directive improves benefits, including maternity protection for self-employed women and female spouses of self-employed workers, and was subsequently adopted without debate by transport council ministers on 24 June.

• 01 Jul 2010
  EU Level: EU social partners reach agreement on inclusive labour market

  In March 2010, the EU-level cross-sector social partners presented a new joint agreement on achieving an inclusive labour market. The agreement sets out the main challenges and develops a range of actions that the social partners can take to help disadvantaged people to enter, remain and develop in the labour market. The member organisations of the signatory parties have three years to implement the agreement, and an implementation report will be drawn up in 2014.

• 23 Jun 2010
  EU Level: Commission consults social partners on working time directive review

  The European Commission has launched a first phase of consultation with the EU-level social partners on a review of the Working Time Directive, following the failure of the Council and the European Parliament to agree on a previous proposal for revision. On this occasion, the Commission is calling for views on a comprehensive review of the directive, to reflect changes to working patterns and practices over the past 20 years.

• 23 Jun 2010
  EU Level: European social partners in gas industry call for action on demographic change and skill needs

  In November 2009, the European social partners for the gas industry presented a joint study on the challenges of demographic change and competencies in the sector. Both employers and trade unions are concerned about the ageing profile of the workforce, with many workers retiring in the next five to 10 years. The study highlights the jobs that will be affected, such as meter readers, engineers, plant operators, and workers in customer services, distribution and exploration.

• 18 Jun 2010
  EU Level: Central government administrations to get sectoral social dialogue committee

  In January 2010, following a positive evaluation of the results of the 2008–2009 test phase of enhanced informal social dialogue for central public administrations, the European social partners agreed to advance the setting up of a sectoral social dialogue committee during 2010. So far, some of the EU Member States have expressed their full support for the formalisation of social dialogue; however, others would prefer to maintain an informal social dialogue instead.

• 01 Jun 2010
  EU Level: First European agreement at Thales aims to improve professional development of employees

  The first European framework agreement on the subject of annual discussions on individual and collective performance between employees and their managers has been concluded at the electronic systems group Thales. The agreement was signed in April 2010 between the Thales group and the European Metalworkers’ Federation. It sets out an annual cycle as part of the discussion process and highlights the need for training to ensure an effective evaluation.

• 24 May 2010
  EU Level: General Motors announces Europe-wide restructuring plans

  In February 2010, the Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Europe, Nick Reilly, announced a five-year plan that aims to reinvigorate 80% of Opel/Vauxhall carlines and place a strong emphasis on alternative solutions. The business plan also foresees the elimination of about 8,300 jobs. This includes the intent to sell or close the Opel production facility in Antwerp, Belgium, a move which trade unions and the European works council have strongly opposed.

• 24 May 2010
  EU Level: Debate about social dimension of Europe 2020 strategy

  In March 2010, the European Commission published the responses to its public consultation about a new ‘Europe 2020’ strategy as a successor to the 2000–2010 Lisbon Strategy. Among the 1,500 submissions were many critical statements by social non-governmental organisations, trade unions and centre-left parties arguing that the Commission’s draft plan did not develop the EU’s social dimension appropriately and repeated many mistakes of its predecessor strategy.

• 13 May 2010
  EU Level: Social partners in audiovisual sector call for action against internet piracy

  The Audiovisual Social Dialogue Committee recently adopted a joint opinion calling for stronger protection against unauthorised file sharing of protected works and performances. This joint opinion is part of a larger debate about the enforcement of copyright on the internet – in particular, about finding a balance between the protection of authors’ rights and the individual’s right to privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.

• 13 May 2010
  EU Level: Commission launches 2010 work programme

  The European Commission issued its work programme for 2010 at the end of March 2010. The programme contains a range of social and employment policy plans, including a revision of the working time directive, a review of the posted workers directive and a possible initiative on paternity leave. It also contains measures designed to help the European Union move towards a low-carbon economy, along with measures going beyond 2010.

• 23 Apr 2010
  EU Level: Social partners propose new improved EU parental leave agreement

  Work–life balance remains a key issue, which Europe’s social actors acknowledge is central to how the European Union’s labour market will develop in the future. In particular, managing parenthood and offering parents the opportunity to establish families with minimum employment disruption can make a major contribution to the EU’s fight to increase social cohesion. The new planned revision of the parental leave directive represents an important step to this end.

• 23 Apr 2010
  EU Level: European trade unions call for sustainable growth model

  The economic crisis has forced the social partners to reconsider future economic policy. Central to assessing what factors should guide economic strategy is the notion of sustainability, a concept that has been around for a long time but one that European trade unions believe is central to economic success of the European Union. A conference organised by the European Trade Union Institute in January 2010 highlighted the key importance of supporting sustainable development.

• 09 Apr 2010
  EU Level: Commission report highlights need to upgrade skills in Europe

  The European Commission engaged the services of an expert group to prepare a report on skills and training. The report, entitled ‘New skills for new jobs: Action now’, emphasises the need to provide the right incentives for people to upgrade their skills and argues for a greater alignment between education and training and the needs of the labour market. The issue of skills acquisition was also discussed at a high-level conference in Brussels on 4 February 2010.

• 09 Apr 2010
  EU Level: New EU directives on preventing injuries from sharp objects and on parental leave

  In March 2010, a meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council took place. One of the main outcomes of the Council meeting was the adoption of a new directive on preventing injuries from sharp objects among workers in the hospital and healthcare sector. The ministers also adopted the text of the new parental leave directive, increasing parental leave entitlement from three to four months.

• 09 Apr 2010
  EU Level: European social partners tackle bogus self-employment in construction sector

  The European social partners in the construction sector have issued a joint text to help tackle the prevalence of bogus self-employment in the sector – a problem which puts workers at risk as well as resulting in unfair competition in the market. They recommend actions such as establishing common European criteria on guidelines for determining the nature of workers’ employment status, and suggest creating a social security identity card that shows their employment status.

• 31 Mar 2010
  EU Level: DHL workers launch ‘respect for employees’ campaign

  Over the past year, workers at Deutsche Post DHL have stepped up their activities in demand of better working conditions and trade union recognition at the company’s various international locations. The activities have included a ‘campaign for respect’ and a global week of action, which have resulted in meetings taking place with senior DHL management. The activities point to the increased use of modern technologies in campaigns targeting global players.

• 31 Mar 2010
  EU Level: Metalworkers respond to European Commission’s 2020 strategy

  Civil society is divided over how to deal with the current economic crisis. However, there seems to be an acceptance of the need to learn from past mistakes. In responding to the European Commission’s Europe 2020 consultation document, the European Metalworkers’ Federation has called for the need to reassess the problems associated with the Lisbon Strategy, as well as outlining key proposals for the future.

• 31 Mar 2010
  EU Level: 2010 is EU Year for Fighting poverty and social exclusion

  The advent of economic recession has forced the European Commission to raise peoples’ awareness that poverty is not a personal choice. In designating 2010 as the year to combat poverty, the European Union hopes that this will lead to a wider discussion among the social partners on the causes of poverty and social exclusion. Non-governmental organisations have welcomed the Commission’s initiative.

• 08 Mar 2010
  EU Level: Trade unions and NGOs sign declaration on equality

  A historic alliance of trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promoting equality has come together to call for new legal and policy initiatives to ensure equality in practice. A joint declaration signed by the European Trade Union Confederation and the Social Platform supports six specific actions that the two bodies consider necessary to ensure effective implementation of current European equality directives. They also call for an extension of equality policy.

• 08 Mar 2010
  EU Level: Social partners sign deal on better working conditions in hairdressing industry

  The social partners in Europe’s hairdressing industry have agreed to a deal that should contribute to improving working conditions in the industry. The agreement, signed in 2009, involves developing a European hairdressing certificate which specifies the competencies of a hairdresser. The initiative seeks to improve the low status and pay often associated with the hairdressing profession.

• 08 Mar 2010
  EU Level: Progress on gender equality positive but slow

  The European Commission’s 2009 annual report on equality between men and women points to some significant improvements in women’s labour market participation. However, there are risks that the economic crisis could cause a setback, unless efforts to eliminate gender inequalities in employment are continued and intensified. The report notes, for example, that the downturn could be used as a reason to cut or limit gender equality measures.

• 17 Feb 2010
  EU Level: New European observatory on cross-border temporary agency work

  On 4 December 2009, the social partners in the field of temporary agency work launched a new Observatory on cross-border temporary agency work. The Observatory is the outcome of more than a year’s discussions between the social partners. It is also a response to the directive on temporary agency work. Through the Observatory, the social partners intend to monitor and review cross-border activities involving temporary agency staff.

• 26 Jan 2010
  EU Level: ETUC criticises EU finance Council’s recommendation to cut public spending

  The economic crisis and subsequent recession have led to a major increase in unemployment across Europe. The best strategy to reduce unemployment remains contentious. Although the Council of the European Union favours a phased approach towards cutting public spending by 2011, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) favours an increase in spending to secure further economic recovery. Some small and medium-sized enterprises agree with ETUC.

• 19 Jan 2010
  EU Level: Social partners look at impact of climate change on employment

  In the run-up to the climate conference, which was due to take place in Copenhagen in December 2009, the social partners at EU level have been considering the relationship between climate change and employment policies. In particular, they are calling for climate change initiatives to take account of the need to sustain employment, not only creating new jobs but also ensuring that workers possess the skills to work in new, greener jobs.

• 15 Jan 2010
  EU Level: ECHR upholds right to collective bargaining and to strike

  The European Court of Human Rights made two recent judgements in the cases of Demir and Baykara v. Turkey and Enerji Yapi-Yol Sen v. Turkey. The cases declare that Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights includes a right to collectively bargain and precludes a blanket ban on a right to strike.