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ThyssenKrupp Elevator: new European agreement signed with IndustriAll Europe introduces a system of idea management to improve health and safety
On November 14, IndustriAll Europe, manufacturing union, signed its first European agreement with a German company, namely ThyssenKrupp Elevator. This agreement confirms the key role played by...
EU: Parliament Employment Committee adopts report urging the Commission to adopt an initiative on socially responsible restructurings
Towards a European framework on restructurings.  If the Parliament adopts the resolution as planned on December 10-11, the European Commission will have to either adopt a proposal or explain its...
Italy: textile and footwear unions sign unitary platform renewing national collective agreement
On November 15, the Femca-Cisl, Filctem-CGIL and Uilta-Uil unions approved the unitary platform renewing the national collective agreement in textile, clothing and footwear (over 500,000...
Great Britain: round 2 of funding for corporate projects improving employees’ skills
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock announced on November 20 that businesses can now bid to receive part of the GBP 150 million (nearly EUR 187 million) government fund for the development of skills...
Portugal: social partners launch negotiations on the introduction of a duodecimal bonus system
The Portuguese government promised unions and employers a bargaining round for the application of the duodecimal system for bonuses given in the private sectors (i.e. over two years). The social...
Belgium: pay freeze in 2013 and 2014 without questioning the indexation on inflation
The government run by socialist Elio Di Rupo reached an agreement on the draft 2013 budget providing for a pay freeze in the country, which will not affect average and low wages and minimum wage...
Germany: Verdi starts another war against T-Mobile USA (Deutsche Telekom), accused of “psychological terror” against employees trying to join a union
The Verdi services union is going on the offensive again denouncing the "primary antiunion" attitude of T-Mobile USA's management since the company was created in 2001. Based on a recent internal...
20 November 2012
Sweden: guaranteed hourly pay for agency workers
After 7 months bargaining, an agreement was finally reached for the 60,000 agency workers on October 17. signed between LO (landsorganisationen, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation) and Almega...
Luxembourg: planned 2013 budget provides for new cuts to social spending
Aiming for balance.  Following criticism from a majority of MPs, Jean-Claude Juncker administration amended the planned budget presented in October.  MPs from the Christian Social People’s Party...
EU: a draft directive on non-financial reporting could be adopted soon
European Commission should adopt a draft directive aiming at improving transparency in businesses, particularly in the areas of environment, human rights and sustainable development, and on ways...
20 November 2012
Italy: social partners reach agreement on the “Productivity Pact” requested by Monti
Towards a decentralized conventional system.  After the separate agreement reforming the collective bargaining system was signed on January 22, 2008 (see our dispatch No.  090080) and the...
Sweden: to get round unions’ veto on signing crisis agreements, businesses negotiate amendments to the labor contract directly with their employees
The case of Parker Hannifin in Trollhättan.  Created in 1918, Parker Hannifin Corporation is the global leader in motion and control technologies, employing 60,000 people around the world –  1,200...
19 November 2012
ZF Friedrichshafen: IG-Metall union and car part maker fight over the implementation of the company’s international framework agreement
On October 5, ZF Friedrichshafen, one of the world leaders in ground transmission and liaison systems, signed with union and employee representatives an international framework agreement (IFA) on...
Corporate practices: BMW launches TaLENT, a more flexible training scheme focusing on the talents identified among apprentices
Demographic ageing, production changes - harder to plan than they used to be - and quick technological change are forcing businesses to come up with new HR management and training policies. In...
19 November 2012
Spain: new Royal Decree introduces framework to develop dual vocational training
ecree No. 1529/2012 introducing the contract of training and learning based on the dual training system was published. It is meant to gradually implement the dual vocational training system in...
Denmark: FTF union confederation congress banks on cooperation
Funktionærernes og Tjenestemændenes Fællesrad (FTF), the second largest union in the country, organized its congress on November 14-15 in Copenhagen with the slogan "Together for Society." The...
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France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
2
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...