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Sodexo: union coordination attacks the international group caterer
The union coordination has brought in more countries since the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) launched the initiative earlier this year (see our dispatch No. 100543) since it is now...
Great Britain: Universities Minister promises higher number of and status for apprentices
More apprentices, more recognition. Apprentices working in key sectors (notably the industry) will gain the title of “technician” after completion of their course. David Willetts this is a way of...
6 October 2010
Finland: unions try to be united for the cycle of fall collective bargaining
Wage increases for employees in new technologies and phone operators.  After long negotiations and a strike threat by the TU industrial workers’ union in September to the two key mobile phone and...
6 October 2010
Uruguay: general strike on October 7th to support union claims
Just like what happened two years ago, Uruguayan plenary workers’ interunion-national workers’ convention (Plenaria Intersidical de Trabajadores-Convención Nacional de Trabajadores, PIT-CNT) had...
Netherlands: new government wants to cut minimum wage
A coalition agreement between the liberal party (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) was presented on September 30th and approved on October 5th by the Christian democrats’...
Italy: negotiations started for the “growth pact” promoted by the Confindustria employers’ organization
The “sense of responsibility” prevailed: “all the social partners took a step back from their individual interests to work on the country’s interests.”  This is how Emma Marcegaglia, leader of...
Great Britain: Confederation of British Industry presents concrete proposals to limit the right to strike
The rationale for the CBI’s proposals is three-fold. First, industrial action could jeopardise the fragile economic recovery. Second, only 15% of workers in the private sector are union members...
Estonia: trade unions publish their own manifesto as an answer to employers’ work program
Pensions, unemployment benefits and education.  Unions and employers did a sparring match through texts two weeks after the ETTK employers’ organization presented its work program (see our...
Germany: 2011/2012 collective bargaining schedule
2010 negotiations end with a controversy on equal pay.  Will the agreement signed in the steel industry – introducing equal pay between permanent  and temporary workers, as well as a 3.6% increase...
Switzerland: under the threat of a referendum, the Parliament is refusing to open the postal market
Ballot.  Communication workers’ unions won a first battle.  On September 29th, the Swiss House of Representatives, the National Council, refused (102 against, 82 for) to open the postal market to...
Spain: peers drive head of employers’ confederation to quit
Disputed management. Mr. Diaz Ferrán hoped to stay in position until the end of his term in 2013.  But it had become impossible to defend. He was increasingly openly questioned within the...
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5 October 2010
Great Britain: government presents plan to extend the right to flexible work
on September 30th: parents of children under 18 will be allowed to ask their employer for flexible working arrangements from next April. This is a first step towards the possible extension of this...
EU: Uni wants to promote ‘whistleblowing’ in businesses
Whistleblowing is more widespread in the UK and the US than it is in continental Europe. This practice consists in employees knowing about offenses, statutory violations or any hazard to health or...
4 October 2010
Italy: Lombardy launches apprenticeship replacing mandatory school training
A “reform with a very high cultural value,” is how the President of Lombardy, Roberto Formigoni, presented the apprenticeship agreement he signed on Monday, September 27th with the Minister of...
Germany: two of the three temporary employers’ organizations announce their merger
Merger in 2011. “It’s time temporary businesses joined forces. Consequently, the managements of our two federations unanimously decided to quickly launch the procedure for the AMP and BZA to...
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1
EU: Commission launches consultation with social partners on quality jobs
On 4 December, the European Commission launched the first phase of consultation with social partners with a view to a European directive on jobs, which is scheduled for the end of 2026. It could...
4 December 2025
2
United Kingdom: government scraps plan to introduce ‘day one’ protection against unfair dismissal
The UK government announced on 27 November, in a statement, that it would not be introducing the right to challenge unfair dismissal (without cause) from the first day of employment in its...
3 December 2025
3
Poland: bill adopted to amend definition of psychological harassment
On 27 November, the Polish cabinet adopted a draft amendment to the labour code aimed at simplifying the definition of psychological harassment at work, or “mobbing” (Article 94 3)...
4 December 2025
4
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
5
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
6
France: minimum wage to rise by 1.18% on 1 January
On 12 December, the French government announced a 1.18% increase in the minimum wage, taking effect on 1 January 2026. The pay level will rise from €1,802 to €1,823 gross per month (for...
16 December 2025