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Spain: call-center unions call for 8 days of strike
The FeS-UGT and Comfia-CCOO unions blame the employers’ organization for using blackmail by agreeing to sign the new collective agreement only if unions accept a new layoff arrangement. Employers...
Great Britain: Unite union threatens Ford with strike
In early January 2010, Ford informed Unite that it intended to use the CPI (consumer price index) to calculate its inflation linked increases to its pension scheme payments, rather than the...
Romania: adoption of the new Labor Code
Code adopted.  Entitled “Against the Boc Code, low wages, high unemployment and bankrupting businesses,” the motion of censure introduced by the social-democratic and liberal opposition wasn’t...
Austria: government introduces quota of 35% of women on the boards of public companies
“It may only be an Austrian-style solution but it’s a good compromise” declared social-democratic Minister for Women Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek when presenting, on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in Vienna...
Germany: employees allowed to cut workweek down to 15 hours to care for dependent person
On February 17th, the parties in power (CDU/CSU and FDP) agreed on a bill allowing employees, starting on January 1, 2012, to cut their workweek by 50% to take care of a dependent relative...
Norsk Hydro: new global framework agreement
The Norwegian energy group, which also operates in aluminum, Norsk Hydro, recently signed a framework agreement “for the development of good working relations” in the company.  The Norwegian State...
Eiffage: agreement renewing the EWC
Since it was created in 1998, the construction and public works company has deliberately been promoting union representation within its EWC and is used to working with the EFBWW, which has a...
EU: electricity social partners point to the social dimension of the EU’s external energy policy
Joint response.  Eurelectric for employers and the EPSU and EMCEF for unions point to the social dimension of the EU’s policy in this area.  They particularly request that the European strategy...
Spain: home stretch for the debate on the collective bargaining reform
The prolongation of collective agreements reaching their deadline.  Employers wanted the removal of the automatic prolongation of collective agreements until the signature of the next agreement...
EU: euro area States commit to take measures so wages evolve in line with productivity
The 17 countries in the euro area gave their consent, on Saturday morning, to a Pact aiming to bring their economic policies closer, to avoid a new debt crisis in Europe.  Under pressure from...
Netherlands: heavier sanctions against cheating businesses
On March 10th, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Henk Kamp sent a letter to the Parliament explaining the need to punish businesses that don’t comply with labor law.  The Minister mostly wants...
Portugal: merchandise carriers strike against fuel prices
Trial of strength.  The emergency meeting between the government and carriers which followed the announcement of the blockade didn’t lead to an agreement, since the most important claim on...
Spain: adoption of the bill transposing the new EWC directive
Effective rights.  The bill adopted by the Spanish government on March 8th doesn’t change much from Directive 2009/38.  The definitions of information and consultation are the same word for word...
Alstom: interview of Patrick Dubert and Noël Huret, respectively HR manager and IR manager of the Group, on the European agreement on the anticipation of change
Patrick Dubert.  We feel there are three sides to this agreement.  First, the organization of dialogue on evolutions, preparing the future both at European and at national/local level.  Secondly...
Italy: social partners set guidelines for territorial agreements for the tax exemption of productivity wages
The Confindustria confederation for employers and the CGIL, Cisl and Uil for unions signed, on March 8th, a unitary agreement on the guidelines for local agreements granting businesses tax...
Luxembourg: renewal of banking collective agreement
Disagreements.  Debated since the end of October 2010, the collective agreement applying to Luxembourg’s banks is about to be concluded.  The social partners – ABBL for employers and LCGB, ALEBA...
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EU: Parliament formally adopts omnibus, diluting due diligence rules
On 16 December, the European Parliament formally approved the omnibus package amending the EU corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence directives. Their application has been pushed...
16 December 2025