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Denmark: agreement renewing the banking collective agreement
“These discussions were unusually long and complicated (…).  The economic situation in the sector and in society brought up pressure like I’ve never seen in all my years of conventional...
Spain: reactions to the decree-law reforming the labor market
Growing union mobilization.  Unions immediately openly rejected the labor reform the government adopted on February 10 (see our dispatch No.  120100) and called for protest demonstrations across...
Germany: demographic ageing at the heart of the coming collective negotiations in the chemical industry
6 percent wage increase.  IG BCE leader Michael Vassiliadis says that the high wage increase called for by his union is completely justified because of the flourishing economic situation in the...
Italy: historical verdict at Eternit’s super asbestos trial
For the first time, a multinational’s management is sentenced for an environmental disaster caused by its foreign subsidiaries.  The Court of Turin tried the former CEO of Eternit, Stephan...
Austria: energy sector avoids a strike and negotiates an increase up to 4.2 percent
The 21,000 employees in the energy sector won’t have to take their banners out to defned their wage increase.  While, on Monday, February 13, the preparations for two days of protest were in full...
Spain: new savings bank collective agreement sets framework for the expected restructurings in the sector
ACARL, the employers’ association of savings banks, and the sector’s majority unions (Comfia-CCOO, FeS-UGT, the Confederation of Independent Savings Bank Unions – CSICA, the Confederation of...
Greece: pay-related measures of the new austerity program
First, special measures on the definition of wages will prompt the payment of financial aid. 
Austria: call for strike after energy negotiations failed
Two days of protest.  Temperatures are going up and therefore risks of blackouts are decreasing just in time as the Pro-GE and GPA-dip unions, in charge of collective bargaining in the energy...
Denmark: manufacturing social partners sign agreement renewing the collective agreement
“With this agreement, production stays in Denmark (…).  We would have liked more but the key for us and our members is that manufacturing jobs in the Danish industry have a future” declared Dansk...
Great Britain: Apprenticeship Week confirms the government’s strategy
Government commitment.  The Apprenticeship Week launched by Business Minister Vince Cable mobilized a certain number of businesses, industrial federations, universities and training centers.  Over...
13 February 2012
Spain: government adopts wide labor market reform
The reform, published in the Official Journal on Saturday, February 11, comes into force today, February 13, even if the Parliament has to sign it for it to be truly permanent.  Unions called for...
Romania: Electrolux employees on strike for two weeks
Conflict over the signature of a collective agreement.  Since January 24, the Romanian household appliance manufacturing plant owned by the Swedish group has been paralyzed.  Why?  Because 850...
Italy: Maschio Gaspardo Group signs agreement safeguarding jobs for the next three years
“We decided to reward our employees’ loyalty and commitment because, as our traditional slogan says, ‘Together Wins.’”  This is how Egidio Maschio, CEO and co-founder of Maschio Gaspardo*...
EU: first meeting of UNI-Europa’s EWC coordinator network
The coordinators’ role.  UNI-Europa’s EWC coordinator network is taking shape.  The idea isn’t new; for year, the federation has been willing to encourage exchanges between its representatives...
9 February 2012
Italy: Hewlett Packard Italiana signs new company agreement, 25 years after the last one
Workers unanimously approved the agreement, which will be in force between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2014.  Here are the key provisions. 
Romania: new government sets employment as its priority
Calm people down.  Ease tensions and the social situation: that’s the mission for the new Romanian government.  On Monday, February 6, Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, who used to be the leader of the...
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1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
France: TotalEnergies steps up commitment on disability
On 9 October, French energy group TotalEnergies and all representative trade unions signed a new four-year agreement on disability inclusion. Taking effect on 1 January 2026, the deal aims to help...
6
Germany: bill adopted to step up fight against illegal employment
On Thursday 13 November, Germany's Bundestag passed a bill to modernise and digitalise the country’s system for tackling undeclared work and financial crime. In future, the relevant department at...