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September 2011

• 30 Sep 2011
  Spain: Government to reform collective bargaining rules

  Last June the government issued a decree to reform the collective bargaining regulations after the social partners had failed to reach an agreement despite months of negotiations. Reform was seen as a necessary step to halt the rise in unemployment. It is hoped that by making the introduction of more flexible working conditions simpler and speedier, employers will be less likely to resort to mass dismissals in response to the economic crisis, and jobs will be preserved.

• 30 Sep 2011
  Poland: Massive teacher layoffs in education sector

  In September 2011, at the beginning of the 2011/2012 school year, some districts in Poland were planning to lay off up to 30% of their teaching staff. This is largely because the local governments responsible for supervising and funding public education up to secondary level are in financial difficulties, although a demographic slump has also caused a significant fall in pupil numbers. Unions, however, insisted that the cuts are being used to lower teachers’ pay and increase their working hours.

• 30 Sep 2011
  United Kingdom: Transport and travel unions discuss merger

  In August 2011, the major transport and travel industry unions, RMT and TSSA, announced talks over a possible merger. This could lead to a union with around 105,000 members, representing most grades of staff at train operating companies, the Network Rail infrastructure provider and London Underground. There have been no major union mergers in the UK for several years. TSSA and RMT have increasingly campaigned together on pay, pensions and jobs and cuts in transport spending.

• 30 Sep 2011
  Luxembourg: New collective agreement signed in banking sector

  In October 2010, the social partners within the banking sector met to negotiate the renewal of its collective bargaining agreement. Before discussions began, employers had already announced their desire to alter dramatically some aspects of the agreement that had increasingly been taken for granted by all parties such as automatic salary increases for seniority rather than merit. Discussions were difficult and it took almost six months to conclude a new agreement.

• 30 Sep 2011
  EU Level: Pressure mounts for EU quota of women on company boards

  In July 2011, the European Parliament called for a binding minimum quota for women’s representation on company boards, of 30% by 2015 and 40% by 2020. Some governments and business groups introduced quotas or voluntary charters to begin working towards these targets, but progress remains slow. The European Commission has warned that it may propose legislation if companies do not make satisfactory progress towards increasing the presence of women at board level by 2012.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Italy: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Italy

  Italy’s commerce sector has been seriously affected by the economic crisis. The mass retailing sub-sector is partially managing to limit losses by keeping prices down. Medium, small and micro enterprises have been the hardest hit, with many closing down in 2009. There are numerous representative organisations for workers and entrepreneurs in the sector. On account of this, industrial relations in the sector are complex and there are many national collective agreements.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Greece: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Greece

  The commerce sector in Greece is one of the most important in the national economy. Its overall contribution to GDP was estimated at 16.3% in 2008 as compared to an average of 10.6% for the EU27. The commerce sector is one of the biggest employers in the overall economy and the largest in the private sector. According to government data, in 2009 a total of 828,200 people worked in the sector; a figure that represents 18.3% of overall employment. There is one main trade union in the sector, the Greek Federation of Private Employees (OIYE), and several relevant employers’ associations.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Slovakia: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Slovakia

  The commerce sector accounts for a significant share of employment in Slovakia. The number of companies in the sector increased by almost 70% and aggregate employment rose by about 10% in the decade up to 2008. The social partners are stable and well organised in the sector. Because only one organisation exists on each side, there is no rivalry regarding collective bargaining and participation in consultations on sector-related matters. Multi-employer as well as company collective agreements are concluded in the sector.

• 26 Sep 2011
  EU Countries: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce

  This study aims to provide the necessary information for encouraging sectoral social dialogue in the commerce sector. The study comprises three parts: a summary of the sector’s economic background; an analysis of the social partner organisations in all the EU Member States, with special emphasis on their membership; their role in collective bargaining and public policy, and their national and European affiliations; and finally, an analysis of the relevant European organisations,particularly their membership composition and their capacity to negotiate. The EIRO series of representativeness studies aims 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 the basic information required to establish sectoral social dialogue.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Slovenia: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Slovenia

  The commerce sector in Slovenia accounts for 12% of employment in the country’s economy. Between 2000 and 2007 the number of companies in the sector decreased, while the number of employees increased by 15%. The trend for increasing employment is especially strong among women. The sector’s rate of collective bargaining coverage is 100% and the social partners( two trade unions and three employer organisations) evaluated sectoral social dialogue in 2009 as quite successful.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Netherlands: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Netherlands

  The commerce sector plays an important part in the Dutch economy with traditionally stable employment. The labour relations in the sector are heterogeneous. The size of companies varies enormously, from small, family-run retailers through to multinational companies. This diversity is reflected in the organisational structure of the social partners, in particular in employer organisations.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Romania: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Romania

  Between 1998 and 2008, the number of employed persons and the number of employees in Romania’s commerce sector increased by 26.0% and 35.5% respectively, while the number of companies fell by 2.6%. The entry of the global retail chains into the Romanian market led to the elimination of a large number of small and micro companies. The collective agreement in force at sectoral level is signed by one trade union federation and one employer organisation, each of them covering only about 1% of the total employees. This is a result of the preponderance of the small companies in this sector, which makes organisation of representative trade unions and employer organisations more difficult.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Hungary: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Hungary

  Hungary’s commerce sector is the second largest in the economy in terms of both number of enterprises and number of employees. Despite this, the overall number of companies in commerce declined drastically in recent years. Over 98% of all companies in the sector are small or medium-sized enterprises. There is one sectoral union, the Trade Union of Commerce Workers (KASZ), and four employers’ organisations. There is no sector-wide collective bargaining agreement and few employees in either wholesale or retail are covered by collective agreements at either company or multi-employer level.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Belgium: Belgium: The representativeness of trade unions and employer organisations in the commerce sector

  Belgium’s commerce sector accounts for around 14% of the total number of employees and 17% of total employment in Belgium (not including temporary employees). The sector has been through many changes in recent years. Joint committees, which are permanent bodies at sectoral or subsectoral level representing employers’ associations and trade unions, are significant in industrial bargaining in the commerce sector.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Portugal: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Portugal

  In the Portuguese commerce sector the structure of employers’ associations is characterised by a sharp divide between numerous small and medium-sized associations belonging to the Confederation of Trade and Services (CCP) and medium and large retailers belonging to the Portuguese Association of Retail Companies (APED). The trade union camp is dominated by two unions (CESP and SITESE). Collective bargaining is dominated by many local multi-employer agreements and some sectoral multi-employer-agreements, with very high coverage.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Malta: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Malta

  The commerce sector consists of about 16,030 companies employing 15% of the total workforce in Malta. Most of the companies in this sector are micro family-owned enterprises in which no collective bargaining takes place. The only union which carries out collective bargaining is the General Workers Union, which represents about 7% of the workers in the sector. The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises represents about 37% of business owners in the sector.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Luxembourg: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Luxembourg

  The commerce sector forms an important part of Luxembourg’s economy, accounting for about 10% of overall employment in the country. For instance, the Cactus supermarket chain is ranked second on the list of employers nationally. Although several collective bargaining agreements are concluded at company level, no agreement covers the sector as a whole. In fact, the commerce sector is characterised by its heterogeneity in terms of activities as well as strengths, weaknesses and interest groups.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Ireland: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Ireland

  Almost 15% of Irish employment is in the commerce sector. Female employment in the sector increased by over 50% in the 10 years to 2008. Most large employers in retail recognise trade unions for collective bargaining purposes and while union density is low at about 20%, it can be explained by a lack of union penetration among smaller retail outlets. Mandate, the largest union in the sector, says trade union recognition is a major issue. Some multinational employers recognise trade unions elsewhere but not in their Irish operations.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Estonia: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Estonia

  The commerce sector in Estonia has suffered significantly because of the economic crisis. The overall number of people employed in the sector declined from 92,500 in 2008 to 83,200 in 2009 and the number of enterprises from 13,943 in 2007 to 13,635 in 2008. Overall, the commerce sector accounted for about 14% of total employees in 2009. There are two trade unions and one employer association active in the sector. While the sector is not covered by a multi-employer collective agreement, several enterprise-level agreements have been concluded.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Sweden: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Sweden

  Sweden’s commerce sector had 550,000 employees in 2008, accounting for 12% of total employment. The most important social partners in the sector are the Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel), the Commercial Employees’ Union (Handels: blue-collar workers), and the Trade union for white-collar workers (Unionen). The Union of Metalworkers (IF Metall) covers employees who work in the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles. The Swedish Trade Federation claims a sectoral domain density of about 80%. According to the Federation, nearly 90% of employees in commerce are covered by collective agreements.

• 26 Sep 2011
  Spain: Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Commerce – Spain

  The commerce sector accounts for 14% of employees in Spain. Collective bargaining is fragmented, with multiple agreements at different levels. There are many different employer organisations focused on specific economic activities. The unions must handle negotiations in every sub-sector, because no single union encompasses the whole sector. The two most representative union groupings each comprise three federations which conclude agreements in the commerce sector. Other unions also have members in specific sub-sectors such as convenience or department stores.

• 23 Sep 2011
  France: Agreements on work-related stress under scrutiny

  In April the Labour Ministry presented the findings from an analysis of more than 234 work-related stress agreements to the Advisory Council on Working Conditions (COCT). The requirement for companies to put in place an agreement on stress at work dates from 2009, when the then Minister for Labour, Xavier Darcos, announced that companies with more than 1,000 employees must address the issue urgently, given the recent spate of suicides in France Telecom and other companies. The findings of the analysis show that to date only 50%of companies were either drawing up a plan of action or negotiating an agreement and that few of the signed agreements contain a clear plan to achieve concrete outcomes.

• 23 Sep 2011
  EU Level: Takeda Pharmaceutical signs EWC agreement

  Takeda Pharmaceutical, a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Japan, signed an agreement establishing a European Works Council in May 2011. It was one of the last EWCs to be established before the ‘recast’ EU directive on works councils took effect in June. However, it appears to reflect many of the provisions set out in the new directive that reinforce the information and consultation rights of the councils and more clearly set out the transnational matters covered in the agreement.

• 16 Sep 2011
  EU Level: Report addresses poverty strategy of Europe 2020

  A report examining actions to promote inclusion and reduce poverty was issued by the Social Protection Committee on 6 July 2011. The report, on the social dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy, details the challenges of meeting the strategy’s main target of lifting 20 million people out of poverty and assesses policy options for addressing them in the current economic climate. These include strengthening early intervention in areas such as child health and education.

• 16 Sep 2011
  Germany: New collective agreement concluded in insurance sector

  In July 2011, German social partners in the private insurance industry signed a collective agreement affecting 160,000 office employees in the sector. After four rounds of talks and strike action, the Employers Association for Insurance Companies and the United Services Union agreed to a staggered wage increase totalling 5.2% and a lump sum payment of €350. Employers say they can only just afford the deal, while the union stresses it has prevented a fall in standards.

• 12 Sep 2011
  Slovenia: Law on temporary work defeated in referendum

  A new Slovenian law on temporary work, which had been vigorously opposed by unions and youth organisations, was roundly defeated in a national referendum in April 2011 with a surprisingly high ‘no’ vote of more than 80%. The outcome was seen as a clear vote of no-confidence in the government, and it was then defeated again in July in a triple referendum on crucial economic policies such as pension reform and the prevention of undeclared work. Early elections are now likely to be held.

• 12 Sep 2011
  Portugal: Government’s first bill taxes Christmas allowance

  In its first bill, passed on 14 July 2011, Portugal’s centre-right coalition government outlines an ‘extraordinary’ surcharge to be imposed on personal income. The tax will hit the Christmas allowance, a highly sensitive payment seen as a necessary 13th monthly wage by many families. This measure was not envisaged in an agreement signed with the EU and IMF in May 2011. Trade unions have reacted strongly to the measure which they say penalises workers, particularly the low paid.

• 12 Sep 2011
  United Kingdom: Agency worker regulations set to come into force

  The Agency Workers Regulations 2010 are due to come into force in October 2011 despite having prompted a very mixed reaction from unions, employer organisations and temporary work agencies. The regulations will implement the 2008 EU temporary agency work directive in the UK, and they entitle agency workers to be treated equally with comparable employees, with regards to basic employment conditions. They are applied after an agency worker has spent 12 weeks in a given job.

• 02 Sep 2011
  Hungary: Government to stop consulting unions on minimum wage

  The Hungarian government will no longer have to consult unions over setting the minimum wage as of 1 January 2012. It is changing the tripartite interest reconciliation system, with a new body, the National Economic and Social Council (NGTT) replacing the National Interest Reconciliation Council (OÉT). The NGTT will include representatives of employers, workers, chambers of commerce, and churches, but it can only propose changes. Unions and employers are against this.

• 02 Sep 2011
  Italy: Shift in Fiat’s bargaining strategy sparks debate

  A broad debate over the reform of the Italian bargaining structure has been sparked by Fiat’s decision to abandon industry-wide bargaining. Instead, it has established new companies for each of its Italian plants so that they can sign first-level collective agreements to regulate employment independently of the metalworking sectoral agreement. Fiat did this because a union split led to doubts over the workability of a traditional deal at its Pomigliano plant near Naples.

• 02 Sep 2011
  United Kingdom: Talks over public service pension reform continue

  In July 2011, following a one-day strike by four unions over public service pension reform, the UK government and union leaders agreed to continue discussions over proposed changes. The government subsequently announced increased pension contributions for civil servants, health workers and teachers, prompting strong criticism from unions. Public service pensions are the focus of a number of draft resolutions to be debated at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress in September.

• 02 Sep 2011
  Malta: Inquiry set up into plight of health sector’s precarious workers

  Criticism about the plight of precarious workers in Malta’s state hospitals has led to the government setting up a board of inquiry into their pay and conditions. Similar complaints have already been made this year by unions and some political parties, but the government decided to act after Opposition health spokesperson Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said the treatment of subcontracted care workers was in breach of the law. She has been backed by the General Workers’ Union.