Dear readers, In this issue of Workers’ Voice – National Updates we highlight how trade unions in different European countries are responding to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic by focusing on the future of work in areas such as remote and teleworking, the right to disconnect, or obtaining extra payment for the remarkable efforts of social and health carers and other workers over the last year. Elsewhere, unions are winning recognition and challenging union-busting, working for equal pay or a four-day week. 

The Lithuanian Industry Trade Union Federation (LPPSF) has welcomed a court judgement confirming the right to be part of a trade union.  The case involved the Transachema company, where 80% of workers became members when the trade union started to organise in 2018. However, the union’s attempts to start collective bargaining procedures were met by a year of delaying tactics from management.  

Following pressure from a group of 51 public service trade unions, the Danish government has agreed to set up a committee to examine the problem of pay inequality.  The unions, representing well over half a million employees in municipalities and regions, have long been pushing for more action on pay equality. The issue affects the whole of society and requires a broad political approach.  They have called for the provision of a substantial pool of money to tackle the gender pay gap. 

A landmark agreement between the German union IG-BCE and employers in the rubber industry means that trade unions have a legal right to contact teleworking employees.  

The OSZSP health union has won extra payments for emergency medical staff whose work has been especially arduous during the pandemic. In negotiations with the government, the union based its demands on knowledge of the situation and specific suggestions from employees.  

Irish union Fórsa is stepping up its cooperation with employers and NGOs in pursuit of a four-day week without loss of pay or productivity.   It has written to the chief executives of all local authorities to ask them to take part in four-day week pilot programmes. Fórsa is part of a coalition of employers, unions, environmental and women’s campaign groups calling for a gradual and managed transition to a shorter working week in all sectors of the economy.  

Britain’s GMB union has won the right to organise members and to bargain collectively on their behalf with Uber, the American ride-hailing platform company.  

The social partners in Italy’s logistics, freight and parcel-shipping sector have agreed together to renew their national collective agreement, covering almost 1 million workers.  

French car manufacturer Renault has reached agreement with trade unions on conditions for remote work, as the Covid-19 pandemic imposes rapid changes on the world of work.  

The role of care workers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been recognised in the Spanish province of Malaga, with an 18% pay increase. The rise will apply to home help staff who support people in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, bringing the hourly wage to €14.60 – the first change since 2007. 

The 2,600 staff of Austria’s federal museums are to have a joint collective agreement after a long campaign by the works councils and the public service union Gewerkschaft Öffentlicher Dienst (GÖD), under the hashtag #WirGehenLeerAus.

Turkish and Dutch trade unions are working together to defend their countries’ public services.  At an online meeting in May, union leaders discussed how outsourcing, privatisation and commercialisation are affecting their public services, and what trade unions can do to prevent privatisation, or to bring services back into public ownership.  

Dear readers, As European countries continue to battle waves of pandemic and lockdown,  trade unions are fully occupied in defending workers’ health, welfare and livelihoods. March is also the month when trade unionists celebrate International Women’s Day, and attention turns to the discrimination women continue to suffer both at work and in society. This edition of National Updates highlights a few of the efforts and achievements of national unions across Europe.

Energy workers in Germany have secured a €1,000 one-off payment in recognition of their work during the pandemic. The deal negotiated by the ver.di trade union on behalf of some 35,000 workers includes a 2.3% pay increase backdated to 1 January. The 27-month agreement that runs until 31 March 2023 provides for a second pay rise of 1.5% in June 2022. Apprentices will get a €600 corona bonus as well as increased pay, with a guaranteed job for all apprentices who complete their training, until 2024.

Trade unions in Finland are setting the pace in promoting women to top positions, compared with employers’ organisations, according to research by Finnish broadcaster YLE. The survey found that women held almost half of trade union board seats, compared with only around one-fifth of equivalent positions in employers’ federations. Ninety-two women and 97 men had places on the executives of the 10 main Finnish unions, with trade unions with large female memberships tending to elect more women.

Branches of ETUC-affiliated trade unions in Italy, Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl, and Uiltec Uil, have signed an agreement with oil company ENI that promotes a just transition for workers, as the business prepares to reduce its carbon footprint. They agreed on a protocol to pave the way for discussions on ENI’s new business structure and its impact on human resources. The objective is to meet the challenge of energy transition in an inclusive way, based on social dialogue and preliminary consultation, with jobs at its heart. 

Trade unions and private-sector employers in Austria have negotiated a ground-breaking cross-sector collective agreement on measures to protect workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Belgian trade unions have concluded a new nationwide agreement setting out the rules for teleworking during the Covid-19 crisis until the end of 2021 and consolidating some workers’ rights. The agreement, approved by employers’ organisations and the country’s National Labour Council, provides a framework for negotiations in companies or industries that do not have existing collective agreements on teleworking.

Trade unions in France have taken action to preserve hundreds of jobs in the struggling aviation industry since 2020. CFE-CGC, CFTC and FO, the three trade unions represented at the Airbus aerospace group’s helicopter production subsidiary, have concluded several agreements aimed at safeguarding the future of its two French sites.

Cyprus’ Democratic Labour Federation (Deok) has called for legislation obliging employers to take action to deal with sexual harassment at work. The demand follows public outcry over a series of sexual harassment and abuse reports in Greece and Cyprus. According to the union, thousands of employees experience sexual harassment and abuse daily, but only a few businesses have adopted procedures to handle such incidents.

Danish trade unions are taking steps to welcome and support Eastern European and other migrant workers who often suffer unequal pay and poor working conditions. The 3F BJMF building workers’ union has designed posters in some seven languages, providing information on how to get in touch with people who can offer support, and other union initiatives.

Sweden’s IF Metall trade union has negotiated a collective agreement that will benefit the many low-paid workers in the country’s laundry industry.

Following agreement with trade unions and employers, Spain’s Labour Ministry has announced the introduction of legislation that will give security to food delivery riders employed through digital platforms like Deliveroo.

Unite the union and the management of the Rolls-Royce factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire, have agreed on a plan to save the plant and 350 jobs that are vital to the local community.

The Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro has adopted a platform setting out policy proposals for the newly formed government, covering the economy and labour market, taxation, public administration reform, social policy and trade union rights and freedoms.