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International: Russia and the crisis
Real figures behind façade optimism. While Vladimir Poutine is talking about the beginning of a drop, based on the number of jobseekers listed by employment agencies (2.7 million in early march)...
Great Britain : social conflicts might multiply and become more radical
History of social conflicts. Since the beginning of the 1980s, the trade union membership has been dropping; consequently, collective bargaining has been declining. However, this trend does not...
Germany : the employers of the chemistry industry blame the trade unions’ “multi-risk insurance minded” mentality and want to freeze the wages
«On the one hand, IG BCE wants more secure jobs and a recruitment guarantee for the apprentices and on the other hand, more money”. This is not compatible, particularly in these difficult...
Italy: the President of the Republic does not enact the labour dispute system reform
The controversial issue of arbitration. Observations concerning how the proposed system would strengthen arbitration in individual work relationships and unblock the courts hover between two...
Suspension of the information thread
During this European holiday season, we are suspending our information thread from Thursday, April 1st, pm through Tuesday, April 6th, am. Planet Labor wishes you a Happy Easter.
1 April 2010
Great Britain : focus on the conflict between British Airways and Unite
On top of this, BA’s labour cost base has always been higher because as a former nationalised industry (until 1987) with an effective monopoly as the national carrier, and compelled by law to...
EU: the 2010 social agenda of the Commission
This year marks « the beginning of a new era » explains the Commission in the Work Programme presented on 31st March. Faced with the economic crisis, the Commission adds: “what is necessary now is...
Germany: Coca-Cola Germany rules out economic layoffs until the end of 2012
Increased competition. “After the threat of massive warning strikes and extremely complicated negotiations, we managed, a) to maintain jobs and b) to conclude guidelines for five collective...
Areva: interview with Maureen Kearney, European Works Council Secretary and Dominique Chevalier, Bureau Member
Dominique Chevalier. We were already opposed to the sale of T&D to Alstom. When we learned that what was planned differed from what had been initially announced, i.e. that the sale of T&D...
Austria: the Confederation of Austrian Unions keeps loosing members
16,400 fewer members last year, is the 2009 evaluation of the evolution of the size of the seven sectoral unions representing 1.22 members. In spite of these dreary results, the ÖGB doesn’t see...
EU: lukewarm agreement between the Twenty-Seven on the EU 2020 objectives
Quantified objectives. The proposal presented by the European Commission (see our dispatch No. 100194) didn’t convince everyone. During the European summit organized last week, the Member States...
Germany: Easyjet employees will have German labor contracts as of this summer
On February 18, 2010, Ver.di called on Easyjet’s German employees to take part in a warning strike between 5:50 and 10:30 am at the airport of Berlin-Schönefeld. This movement led to 16 flights...
Denmark: government and social partners united under the campaign, “Sickness and Work can go together”
Break the taboo on sickness and work. This is the objective of Labor Minister Inger Støjberg who recently launched the campaign “Sick at work – Sickness and Work can go together,” to encourage...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
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1
France: Medef puts forward proposals to improve management quality
On 31 August, Medef, French main employers' organisation, published a practical guide to managerial skills, which it considers to be a driver of economic performance for businesses. Concerned by...
2
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
3
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
4
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
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Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
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UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...