• About EIRO
• Annual reports
• Comparative information
• EU level developments
• Representativeness studies
• Survey Reports
• Browse by:
  • Country
  • Date
  • Sector
  • Subject
• Industrial relations links

May 2011

• 27 May 2011
  Germany: Social partners in chemicals negotiate new collective agreement

  At the end of March 2011, the German Federation of Chemicals Employers’ Associations (BAVC) and the Mining, Chemicals and Energy Industrial Union (IG BCE) concluded a new collective agreement in the chemical industry to take effect at different stages during spring 2011. The social partners agreed to a wage increase of 4.1% for 14 months, flexible pay clauses, training programme expansion and support for training schemes in small and medium-sized chemical companies.

• 27 May 2011
  Norway: Hospitals ordered to reduce part-time work

  In spring 2011 Norway’s Health Minister Grete Strøm-Eriksen ordered all state hospitals to reduce their use of part-time positions by 20%. The government wants more full-time jobs and has also allocated funds to help to reduce the number of people in involuntary part time work. One in three employed women aged 25–54 years in Norway works part time. Many would like their working hours extended, and unions want to see the introduction of a statutory right to full-time work.

• 27 May 2011
  Belgium: Controversy over workplace harassment case

  The harassment and bullying case of a worker shocked Belgium when details of the incident were made public in November 2010, particularly after amateur film footage of it was broadcast. Controversy also focused on the dismissal of a former candidate for union representation who was said to have been involved. Social partners and politicians responded with training measures to raise awareness of harassment in the workplace. A thorough review of current legislation has been promised.

• 27 May 2011
  Spain: Airport workers agree job security deal

  Unions signed a seven-year deal with the Spanish Airport Company AENA on 25 March, to guarantee job security for 11,000 workers (excluding air traffic controllers). The unions had feared potential redundancies when it was officially decreed in December that the country’s airport network would be privatised. However, they called off a threat of 22 days of strike action, coinciding with peak holiday periods, after concluding the agreement, which will be in force until 2018.

• 23 May 2011
  Portugal: EC, ECB and IMF meet with social partners before setting bailout conditions

  After three weeks of negotiations, the Prime Minister announced on 3 May 2011 that Portugal’s caretaker administration had reached an agreement with a mission from the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund for a three-year €78 billion bailout. Before agreement was reached, trade union confederation UGT and employer confederation CIP demanded that the Agreement on Employment and Competitiveness signed on 22 March 2011 should still be honoured.

• 23 May 2011
  Czech Republic: Amendments to social and labour law come into force

  Amendments to the Czech Labour Code came into force on 1 January 2011, liberalising the labour laws and making it easier for businesses to hire and fire workers and scale back social welfare entitlements. Employment contract regulations have been tightened to stop employers avoiding welfare payments, and it was also hoped that the amendments would help cut public expenditure. However, the changes are less extensive than those originally envisaged by the government.

• 23 May 2011
  Bulgaria: Strike action avoided on Bulgarian railways

  Trains all over Bulgaria stopped for one hour on 10 March 2011 as railway workers mounted a one-hour warning strike. Out of a total of 60 scheduled trains, 52 came to a standstill. Workers were protesting at the terms of the World Bank loan for the stabilisation of two Bulgarian railway companies, the National Railway Infrastructure Company and Holding Bulgarian State Railways. The loan is conditional on a 30% cut in labour costs which will lead to job cuts and wage freezes.

• 11 May 2011
  Spain: Agreement signed on growth, employment and guaranteed pensions

  After a period marked by the failure of social dialogue to achieve agreements on employment policies and labour market legislation reform, the government and the most representative social partners reached some significant compromises and signed an agreement in February 2011 on pensions, active labour market policies and industrial policies. Social partners have also undertaken to conclude an agreement on collective bargaining reform in the upcoming months.

• 11 May 2011
  Sweden: Unions and opposition criticise government’s active labour market policy

  In July 2007, the Swedish centre-right government introduced a new work scheme to battle long-term unemployment. The scheme, called ‘phase three’, is offered to people who have been out of work for 300 days and have used up their allowance of unemployment insurance. The work scheme, where the person is paid for working by the state, has been heavily criticised by the unions and political opposition. Now, the Public Employment Service will review all phase three employments.

• 11 May 2011
  Germany: Overall DGB membership falls again in 2010

  Latest figures from the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) show that membership of its affiliated trade unions fell by 1.1% in 2010. The decline was slightly less than in 2009 when it dropped by 1.7%. Against the background of the economic crisis, the fall was modest, although membership was helped by a union merger in the rail sector including a small union that had not previously been affiliated. Apart from the merger, membership rose in three of the eight DGB affiliates.

• 11 May 2011
  Austria: Austria: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  Austria’s commerce sector employs almost 593,000 workers; the highest number for any sector apart from manufacturing. Industrial relations in commerce correspond to Austria’s standard pattern of obligatory membership for employers in the Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) and its relevant subunits. Therefore, the collective bargaining coverage lies at 100%. The representativeness of the sector’s two trade unions is unchallenged. There are no recognition problems in the sector. Unionisation rates are fairly low for both blue- and white-collar workers.

• 11 May 2011
  Cyprus: Cyprus: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  The commerce sector in Cyprus is crucial to the country’s economy, accounting for 13.4% of the total value added and 17.8% of total employment in 2008. However, in terms of employee representation and collective bargaining, the sector is characterised by extremely low union rates and collective bargaining coverage. Making collective bargaining the principal mechanism for creating and determining the terms and conditions of employment in the commerce sector is a top priority for the trade unions.

• 11 May 2011
  Poland: Poland: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  Commerce is one of the leading sectors of the Polish economy in terms of employment. The consolidation process in the sector has advanced considerably in recent years. No sectoral (multiemployer) collective agreement has been signed and no sectoral tripartite social dialogue body exists. Single-employer collective agreements exist in cooperative segments of the sector. Trade unions have been slowly improving their position in the retail networks.

• 11 May 2011
  France: France: The representativeness of trade unions and employer’s associations in the commerce sector

  The commerce sector is very significant in France, accounting for about 13% of total employment. Collective bargaining agreements cover about 90% of employees in the sector. There are 120 employers’ assocations and six main unions for the sector. It is characterised by many small enterprises, and 12% of commerce workers in 2007 were self-employed people. These factors inhibit the extension of worker representation to the whole sector.

• 11 May 2011
  Denmark: Denmark: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  Turnover in the Danish retail sector has declined by 11% since mid-2008, although employment in retail has remained relatively constant in that period. There are over 48,000 individual companies in the commerce sector together employing about 15% of the total Danish workforce. Some 40–50% of these workers are covered by collective bargaining. No particular problems are reported in terms of representativeness and recognition in the sector.

• 11 May 2011
  United Kingdom: UK: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  The UK commerce sector employs a large volume of workers, although it has been adversely affected by the recent economic crisis. There are few disputes between the social partner organisations in the sector over the right to recruit members and to participate in public policy, although trade union density and collective bargaining coverage rates within the sector are relatively low. This is largely attributable to the small average firm size in the commerce sector..

• 11 May 2011
  Lithuania: Lithuania: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  Lithuania’s commerce sector has expanded considerably in recent years and accounts for over 17% of total employment in the country. Of these workers 57% are women. Three sectoral trade unions and one employer organisation operate in the commerce sector. However, sectoral collective bargaining does not take place in the sector. Some enterprise-level collective agreements are signed but they cover only a small proportion of commerce sector employees.

• 11 May 2011
  Germany: Germany: The representativeness of trade unions and employer organisations in the commerce sector

  With over four million employees, the commerce sector is one of the major pillars of the German economy. Collective bargaining is characterised by a multitude of actors serving the different interests in the sector. Collective agreements are concluded at the regional level by the United Services Union, the German Trade and Industry Employees’ Association and the Metal Workers’ Union with the member associations of the Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trade, the Federation of German Retail, regional guilds or collective bargaining unions.

• 11 May 2011
  Czech Republic: Czech Republic: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  The Czech Republic’s commerce sector has been almost completely privatised since 1990. Despite the presence of international chains, small and medium-sized businesses still prevail. Sectoral social partners are engaged in collective bargaining at the sectoral level, and higher-level collective agreements have been concluded since 1994. These agreements have not, however, extended to wage scale negotiations, mainly because of the enormous diversity of commercial businesses and the current economic conditions.

• 11 May 2011
  Bulgaria: Bulgaria: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the commerce sector

  In 2008 the added value realised by Bulgaria’s commerce sector amounted to €5,287 million, 9.6% higher than in 2007. The commerce sector has two trade unions, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB CL) and PODKREPA, and one employers’ organisation, the Bulgarian Traders Union (BTU). The sector has a low union membership, because of a high workforce turnover and the prevalence of small and medium enterprises. Collective bargaining is conducted at sectoral level and company level. This means that only the BTU employers implement the branch collective agreement (BCA).

• 05 May 2011
  Austria: Campaign begins for fathers to take paternity leave

  A publicity campaign has been launched in Austria by the Federal Ministry for Women and Civil Service, to encourage fathers to take paternity leave. The campaign is supported by the social partners who are also publicising the issue among employers. Data show that less than 5% of all people receiving child care benefits in Austria are male. Meanwhile, a regulation for civil servants was implemented in January 2011, entitling fathers of new-borns to take up to four weeks off.

• 05 May 2011
  Cyprus: New agreement in sea and coastal water transport

  On 7 January 2011, trade unions and employer organisations representing workers in the sea and coastal water transport sector in Cyprus agreed to renew their collective agreement. Effective for three years, the new agreement follows a general trend of moderate pay increases in the country, providing for a total rise of about 1.5% in basic wages (but only from the second year of the agreement). The new agreement makes no substantial changes in areas other than pay.

• 05 May 2011
  Austria: Government sets female quota for board representation

  On 15 March 2011, the Austrian government agreed on the implementation of female quotas for supervisory boards of state-owned companies. A quota of 25% is to be brought in by 2013 with an increase to 35% by 2018. The new regulations will affect 55 companies, including the Austrian National Bank and Austrian Railways, and the government hopes private companies will follow their lead. Employers and unions generally welcome the regulations – although for different reasons.

• 05 May 2011
  Finland: Prime Minister calls for tripartite cooperation

  Finland’s Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi has called for wage coordination and a framework for moderate collective agreements negotiated on a tripartite basis. She said that a tripartite programme, lasting over the next two electoral periods, is needed to improve the competitiveness of Finnish labour, and to promote growth and investment. Trade unions welcomed the proposal, saying that they, employers and ministers need to have ‘a common script’ for their objectives.

• 05 May 2011
  United Kingdom: Court rules for unions in strike dispute

  Employers will find it harder to obtain court injunctions in the UK to stop industrial action. Rail workers’ trade unions won an important court case in March 2011, concerning technical irregularities in strike ballots. More and more employers, such as BA and Network Rail, have recently been obtaining court injunctions to prevent industrial action, on the grounds that unions had not complied fully with the complex statutory requirements on balloting and notification.

• 05 May 2011
  Sweden: Industrial conflict avoided in the banking sector

  In February 2011, negotiations between the major social partners in the Swedish banking sector broke down; the Financial Sector Union of Sweden (Finansförbundet) terminated the existing agreement on wages and working conditions and gave notice of conflict. Primarily, the disagreement concerned differences over wage negotiations and pay levels. However, industrial action was avoided as the parties managed to reach an agreement one day before the conflict was set to start.

• 02 May 2011
  Czech Republic: Czech Post plans to dismiss up to 1,700 people

  The Czech Post, one of the biggest employers in the Czech Republic with 35,000 staff, is to shut 1,500 branches (half its network) and dismiss up to 1,700 workers. Branches in rural areas will be particularly affected by the plan. Specific details of the redundancies are still to be discussed by the postal trade union and the company management. Unions say there is no need for so many job cuts, and the general public are afraid of having to travel further to get a poorer service.

• 02 May 2011
  Italy: Agreement on public sector salaries

  The Italian government reached an agreement with unions on 4 February 2011 over productivity-linked pay increases in the public sector. The agreement also covers negotiations for a framework agreement on industrial relations in the public sector until 2012, as collective bargaining is frozen until then. The General Confederation of Italian Workers did not sign the agreement because it is based on the 2009 reform of the bargaining system, which they had also not signed.

• 02 May 2011
  Latvia: Ministry of the Interior starts talks on collective agreement

  Talks on setting up a collective agreement for employees of the Latvian Interior Ministry began in December 2010. Linda Mūrniece, Minister of the Interior, wants to establish cooperation with the relevant unions while state organisations are being forced to cut expenditure on salaries, long-service bonuses and early retirement at the age of 50. There has been a long-standing conflict between the minister and the police union which has repeatedly called for her to resign.

• 02 May 2011
  Hungary: Hungarian motor sector boosts economy

  The economic crisis hit Hungary’s motor industry hard, but in 2010 the sector began to recover. Most car manufacturers and suppliers have announced that they are expanding and taking on workers. In addition, Daimler-Mercedes has decided to open a plant in Hungary, which is likely to benefit suppliers in the sector. The trade unions have mixed experiences with the management of multinational car firms. Some have extremely good relations with such firms, while others are not allowed on company premises.

• 02 May 2011
  EU Level: EU agrees pact for the euro

  In March 2011, EU heads of state of the countries in the euro zone agreed on a pact designed to guarantee its stability. The pact’s four main principles are: promoting competitiveness; fostering employment; contributing further to the sustainability of public finances; and reinforcing financial stability. Member States are encouraged to try to achieve this by reforming pay and labour market policies. The pact also welcomes participation from non-euro area countries.

• 02 May 2011
  Cyprus: Rescue plan for Cyprus Airways

  A last-ditch rescue plan for Cyprus Airways was submitted by company management in February 2011. The measures outlined included a substantial reduction in labour costs, with an estimated 156 redundancies. A special agreement on the cuts was concluded by the company and employees, following a mediation proposal prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. The plan also includes re-working the state air carrier’s flight schedule and reducing operating costs.

• 02 May 2011
  France: New deal on social dialogue in insurance sector

  A new agreement has been reached in the insurance sector, under the umbrella of reforms to French union law. The agreement, founded on the principles of representativity and financial transparency, improves the way union representatives are allocated in the sector. Results for the elections to a works council, or for delegates of personnel, in all firms in the sector, are traditionally used to determine how many administrators sit on the body overseeing pension funds.

• 02 May 2011
  Portugal: Deadlock over proposal on severance pay

  Social partners in Portugal have not yet reached an agreement over government proposals to reduce severance pay and to create a fund to finance it. The debate began in January at the Standing Commission for Social Concertation. Employer confederations think any reduction should apply to existing labour contracts, not just future ones. Employers also oppose the government’s idea that funding for the partial payment of severance should be exclusively financed by them.

• 02 May 2011
  Netherlands: Dutch pension funds face serious challenges

  Second pillar pension funds, built up during employment and which supplement the basic state pension, are facing serious challenges in the Netherlands. Active and retired employees find themselves having to deal with the consequences of financial problems affecting the funds. Retired employees in particular want to have more say in managing the funds. Employers are in consultation with the unions about shifting responsibility for part of the pension risk to employees.

• 02 May 2011
  Luxembourg: Insolvent companies remain responsible for social dialogue with employees

  The European Court of Justice has issued a decision on the Luxembourg Landsbanki redundancy case, after being addressed in May 2010 by the Luxembourg Supreme Court. Indirectly, the European judges were asked to rule on the role of social dialogue once a company liquidation has been ordered by a court. This preliminary ruling will probably require the revision of provisions on the immediate termination of employment contracts in cases of company bankruptcy.