Annual reports
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
25 August 2010: Developments in industrial action 2005–2009 [or view as 
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This overview examines developments in industrial action across the European Union and Norway over 2005–2009. The most ‘strike-prone’ countries during the period were Denmark, France and Belgium, while Austria, Estonia and Latvia were essentially strike-free, and the level of industrial action in the new Member States was only about a quarter of that in the EU15. Manufacturing was the sector most prone to conflict, followed by the broad public sector and transport and communications. Pay disputes were the most common cause of industrial action.
27 July 2010: Working time developments – 2009 [or view as size 780 kb]
In 2009, average collectively agreed weekly working time in the European Union stood at 38.7 hours. The figure was 0.8 hours lower in the pre-2004 EU15 and 0.9 hours higher in the new Member States. Agreed normal annual working time averages around 1,750 hours – just above 1,700 in the EU15 and a little over 1,800 in the new Member States. Of three sectors examined, agreed weekly hours are highest in retail, followed by chemicals and the civil service. Average collectively agreed paid annual leave entitlement stood at 24.5 days across the EU in 2009. This EIRO report also examines statutory working time and leave limits, and actual working hours.
28 June 2010: Industrial relations developments in Europe 2009 [or view as size 1317 kb]
This annual review highlights the most significant developments that took place in industrial relations in the EU Member States and Norway in 2009, both at national and EU level. It first sets out the political context, then goes on to examine levels of coverage of collective bargaining, and trends in bargaining regarding pay, working time and a number of other topics. In addition, this review outlines the year’s main developments in employment legislation, social dialogue, industrial action and company restructuring, and explores the impact of the global economic crisis. A specific thematic chapter examines recent developments in social partner organisations in Europe.
24 June 2010: Pay developments – 2009 [or view as size 572 kb]
EIRO’s annual analysis of pay trends finds that the average collectively agreed nominal wage increase across the EU fell from 5% in 2008 to 4.2% in 2009. In the former EU15, the average nominal increase declined from 3.8% in 2008 to 3.1% in 2009, while in the 12 new Member States that joined the EU since 2004 (NMS12), the average dropped from 7.1% in 2008 to 5.9% in 2009. By contrast, taking into account inflation (which fell steeply in 2009), the rate of real increase across the EU rose sharply, from 0.5% in 2008 to 2.9% in 2009. In the EU15, the real increase rose from 0.4% in 2008 to 2.4% in 2009. In the NMS, the real increase rose from 0.8% in 2008 to 3.9% in 2009. The report also examines collectively agreed pay increases in three selected sectors (chemicals, retail and the civil service), increases in minimum wages (as well as current rates), increases in average earnings, and the gender pay gap.