Industrial action

The conclusion of several collective wage bargaining rounds and the nomination of Martin Schulz to run as the Social Democrats’ candidate for Chancellor in September’s federal elections are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

Sectoral collective bargaining in the healthcare sector, changes to the dispute resolution mechanism and equal treatment for men and women in the workplace are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Estonia in the first

Debate is continuing over a draft law to replace the existing public health scheme, which provides free healthcare only to patients with chronic or incurable diseases and/or who are on low incomes. Trade unions and employer organisations oppose proposals for insurance contributions, with the unions

Thousands of prison officers across England and Wales began a 24-hour day of protest on 15 November 2016 over health and safety concerns, after negotiations with the government on staffing failed. UK law proscribes industrial action by prison officers, and they were forced back to work the same day

A dispute over whether posted workers in the Norwegian shipbuilding industry are covered by the industry’s collective agreement has been a major issue between the social partners for the past 10 years. At this juncture, the government is confident the two sides will come to an agreement soon.

A long-running debate about solidarity in industrial action by workers supporting another group, even though their own union is not involved in the dispute, has flared up. There are fears that the turbulence of the 2016 bargaining round will be repeated in 2017 and employers are seeking stricter

Since 2013, trade union ver.di has been recruiting members among employees of Amazon and has campaigned for better wages and working conditions. Amazon opposes all collective bargaining but argues that it is a socially responsible employer. A new round of stoppages by ver.di members demanding a

Industrial action that disrupted operations on Norwegian railways for five weeks in autumn 2016 was settled, with the government agreeing to reframe the national regulations for train drivers’ qualifications ahead of the planned privatisation of much of the rail network in 2017.