All articles

Ireland: unions take to the street at the end of the month to reject the government’s austerity policy
The ICTU thinks Ireland doesn’t need the EU’s help.  “We still have up to 20 million until July 2011 and 25 million in sovereign wealth fund” explained an ICTU economist.  On this at least, unions...
Great Britain: first attempt at coordinated strike action isn’t a big hit
The three disputes constituting the first attempt at coordinated action are a) the pensions dispute at the BBC, b) the dispute over revising shift systems in the London fire brigade, and c) the...
Germany: new health reform causes the wrath of employers and trade unions
Towards the introduction of fixed contributions borne by the insured party only.  Passed after months of controversy, the “Act on Public Health Insurance Funding” (Gesetz zur Finanzierung der...
15 November 2010
Italy: introduction of the draft reform turning the Statute of Workers into the Statute of Works
A “reform destined to impact up to the material constitution of the country.”  This is how Minister of Labor Maurizio Sacconi presented, in his letter to the social partners, on Thursday, November...
Germany:Verdi union claims for a 6% wage increase in insurance
Protect employees’ health better.  Gathered on November 10th in cologne, Verdi’s collective contract commission (Tarifkommission) laid down its requirements for the coming negotiations in...
Netherlands: introduction of the flexible work week with a prize thrown in
With this award, Hutten Catering is going to have free advice on human resources next year.  At Hutten Catering, flexitime isn’t simply for the 80 office clerks but also for cooks, delivery men...
Sweden: new policy to welcome immigrants and quicken their integration on the labor market
This policy has two key objectives: rationalize the responsibilities of the different roleplayers, such as the State, the Employment Agency (Arbetsförmedlingen), the Immigration Office...
Germany: the trend of early wage increases is growing
Bonus for employees worldwide.  When presenting the annual report this week, Siemens CEO Peter Löscher announced that the company’s profit would increase by 63% for the past year (September...
Denmark: businesses increasingly use an email policy
Key vehicle blurring the line between private and professional life, with 20% of employees that can’t help write or read work emails at home and 22% that “always or often” check their email on...
11 November 2010
Germany: one in seven firms excessively uses its employees’ data
Offenses that are quite widespread.  In the introduction, the WSI reminds that, in recent years, Germany was disturbed by a series of spying scandals (Deutsche Telekom, Lidl), data monitoring...
10 November 2010
Areva: EWC calls for quick recapitalization
Worries.  At a press conference organized on Tuesday, November 9th, the representatives of Areva’s WC said they were worried about the delay in recapitalizing the French nuclear group.  “We might...
France: the act reforming pensions was published in the Official Journal, without the measures reforming occupational medicine
Increased statutory retirement age.  Referred to by about 60 MPs and as many senators objecting to the constitutional validity of the two age measures in the law (see our dispatch No. 100768), the...
Italy: the Fiom-CGIL’s action plan for the coming months
Extraordinary unionization campaign.  In the heavy document adopted on November 8th, the national secretariat is responsible for organizing, among other initiatives: 
Belgium: cross-industry negotiations on a 5% available ‘wage cushion’ opened
In Belgium, multi-industry negotiations are held every two years (for the last agreement, see our dispatch No. 090012).  The definition of the norme salariale (wage standard – the maximum limit...
Romania: new strategy against illegal labor
Anonymous denunciation.  Soon, mailboxes will be placed in front over every labor inspectorate in Romania.  These mailboxes are aimed to receive denunciations of undeclared working situations. ...
Germany: the Verdi union wants the legalization of “political strikes”
The right to strike is strictly supervised. In Germany, the right to strike is strictly supervised.  A 1955 decree rendered by the Federal Labor Court (Bundesarbeitsgericht) ruled that “political...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
3
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025
4
France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval
The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...
5
EU: revised EWC directive published in official journal
The revision of the European Works Councils Directive, adopted by the European Parliament on 9 October, was published on 11 December in the EU’s official journal. Initiated in early 2023 by...
6
Germany: far-right-aligned ‘union’ sets sights on Volkswagen works councils
At next spring’s German works council elections, Zentrum – the 'alternative' union aligned with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party – will seek to strengthen its foothold in major...