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United States: greatness and decline of American unionism
American unions have been declining, their total size going from 35 to 12.4%. This can be explained by several external factors (political will to decrease their influence, industrial decline)...
France: MPs want to make progress on the definition of French-style flexicurity
Parliamentary mission in charge of clarifying the notion of French-style flexicurity, headed by UMP MP Pierre Morange, accelerated social partners’ hearings to render conclusions by the...
Denmark: seniors stay at work in spite of the crisis
niors stay at work in spite of the crisis. In the first quarter of 2009, the number of voluntary early retirements dropped of 6,900 units compared with the first quarter of 2008, whereas the...
Spain: Andalusian unions denounce frozen negotiations for the renewal of 80% of the region’s collective agreements
s, UGT and Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), are protesting against the attitude of employers’ organizations which refuse to bargain for the renewal of collective agreements, and against...
Germany: overtime to be included in short-time working benefits for truck drivers
The agreement reached with the representatives of the Federal Ministry for Employment and Social Affairs in mid-June was welcomed by the social partners who negotiated, i.e. the three largest...
Estonia: more flexibility on the labor market on July 1
t step for Estonia, with the enforcement of the new law on the labor contract which introduces flexibility in layoff law. The next day, a 4.2% increase of unemployment insurance contributions was...
Germany: Commerzbank forgoes any layoffs by 2013
ing over the Dresdner Bank, the Commerzbank signed, on July 2, 2009, with its works council, an agreement defining the modalities for the integration of about 20,000 employees from the Dresdner...
Spain: government wants self-employed workers to enjoy unemployment insurance
e for independent workers prepared by the Minister of Labor gives them the possibility to have unemployment insurance. The benefits would last for six months maximum. Workers who want to enjoy it...
Austria: Parliament unanimously votes for the extension of short-time working
m duration of short-time working from 18 to 24 months on July 1, 2009. It is the key measure of the “package for the employment market” (Arbeitsmarkt-Paket II) which all the MPs...
Denmark: SAS airlines breaks off negotiations on a new wage cutting plan
an Airlines System (SAS) announced, on Monday, July 6, a halt to the negotiations on a new wage cut after the first one in January. Norwegian and Swedish unions accepted it provided that the 39...
France: key measures of the interprofessional agreement on “managing the consequences of the economic crisis on employment”
rs agreed on a series of extraordinary measures – with short-time working as a centerpiece – aimed at downplaying the social impact of the crisis. (Ref. 090722) Improving short-time...
Netherlands: department store staff deprived of pay raise to save jobs
ment of the V&D Dutch department store individually asked its 11,500 employees to voluntarily give up the 3.3% pay raise provided for in the collective agreement, proposing that it be...
ArcelorMittal: final European framework agreement on anticipating change
Save jobs and ArcelorMittal’s future. The agreement starts with a commitment linked to the current worries of the company’s employees. “ArcelorMittal intends to preserve all the tools and plants...
Great Britain: employers propose an alternative to layoffs by “pausing” employees
for six months maximum and give them twice the amount of unemployment benefits: this is the suggestion made by the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) on July 6, 2009. It is aimed at helping...
Italy: Constitutional Court annuls provision which allowed avoiding the reintegration of precarious workers
ndard”, the provision was introduced by the Berlusconi government in August 2008 to reduce the costs of disputes between former employees on a fixed-term contract and the Italian post. The...
British Airways: management to inform and consult EWC for national measures
on on June 30, the British airline’s staff and management representatives signed a declaration of principles on consultation and information for national restructuring measures. The...
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
Catherine Chavanier (CDC Habitat): “Social dialogue on AI facilitates its deployment”
In February, CDC Habitat (10,500 employees) signed a two-year framework agreement governing social dialogue on AI. Catherine Chavanier, HR Director of the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et...
2
Greece: hospitality sector signs first collective agreement aligned with National Social Pact
The hospitality sector (125,000 employees), one of Greece’s largest industries after retail, signed a new two-year collective agreement on 17 March. The text, effective from 1 April 2026...
3
France: La Poste to launch negotiations for an AI agreement
Following the lead of firms such as Axa, Syensqo globally, and more recently CDC Habitat, La Poste group management will open negotiations on an AI regulation agreement during the first half of...
4
France: Club Med includes “multiculturalism” in its professional equality agreement
In December 2025, Club Med and the CFTC, Unsa, and FO trade unions signed an agreement on professional equality and working conditions. It introduces measures addressing AI, pay transparency, and...
23 March 2026
5
France: bioMérieux’s new disability agreement pivots towards mental health
The news. On 6 January 2026, bioMérieux—an in vitro diagnostics specialist employing 4,400 people in France—signed a new four-year agreement “relating to the employment...
6
Germany: a wave of redundancy plans in the automotive sector
The latest financial results presented in early 2026 by major German car manufacturers show sharp declines. This collapse in profits has triggered the announcement or confirmation of massive job...
16 March 2026