On March 12, six national union organizations launched a general 18-hour strike in the private sector, which was apparently followed by 145.000 employees, to lobby employers to get a wage increase after nine months of unsuccessful negotiations. Until now, employers have refused to negotiate wages at sectoral level, favoring negotiation at firm-level. To support this union movement which illustrates the situation of European employees, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is planning to gather 35.000 unionists on April 5 in Ljubljana as part of a euro-demonstration to increase wages and purchasing power. (Ref. 080235)
A warning strike already brought together between 15.000 and 17.000 people in November 2007, on the six national unions’ call. In January, social partners almost came to an agreement, but the negotiation failed in the end, and union organizations decided to organize a general strike. They demand a 6.5% general wage increase or a 10% increase for the lowest wages, as well as an increase of minimum wage (€540 a month in January 2008) of €50 and 6.4% for other wages, to compensate the strong infla
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