IBM: creation of a global union alliance
Cooperation.  The agreement is a first in terms of cross-industry union cooperation.  European and international metal and service representatives commit themselves to “work together at global...
Greece: general strike on May 11th against the new austerity measures envisioned by the government
Columnist Giorgos Kyrtsos thinks the country’s bailout is a failure, in spite of the severe austerity policy implemented.  “Wealth production is declining, recession is raging, there aren’t enough...
Austria: 3.05% increase for the 45,000 employees of the chemical industry
It was after their third meeting that the social partners in the Austrian chemical industry – second industry in the country in terms of value produced – agreed on wage increases that show the...
Italy: CGIL rejoices with the success of its general strike against the Berlusconi administration’s economic policy
“We’re the best part of Italy, the one that doesn’t cave or accept the country’s decline, and we don’t deserve this government.”  Susanna Camusso, in her speech closing the big Naples...
Belgium: commerce unions demand harmonization of working conditions for employees
Social dumping.  One year after the creation of a working committee on the harmonization of social dialogue bodies in the commerce industry (equal committees No.  202, 202.01, 201, 311 and 312)...
Germany: after the temporary sector, surveillance is getting sectoral minimum wage
Germany’s solutions to wage dumping.  The government has kept its promise.  To protect German workers against the risk of social dumping with the opening of the labor market to eastern European...
Denmark: young people at the center of the recruitment policies of unions increasing their membership
While many LO historical unions are busy combating their member hemorrhage (see our dispatch No.  110301), many AC unions show historical recruitment scores, sporting a constantly increasing...
EU: Michael Wolters elected EMCEF general secretary
Objectives.  “Our three sectors are gathered within a single union in many European countries, hence this merger.  My goal is to reach an acceptable compromise for our affiliates” explained...
Great Britain: TUC union wants to inform students about unions’ role
Inform via the web.  This is an unprecedented initiative: schools and colleges teachers now have access to learning tools about unions’ role, via a free website accessible to all...
Romania: Social Code to regulate collective industrial relations passed and declared constitutional
Approval of the Code.  The Constitutional Court removed the last obstacle to the promulgation of the Social Code when declaring, on the evening of Wednesday, May 4th, that the five laws it is...
Germany: sharp decline in the number of industrial conflicts in 2010
Quick agreement with the crisis in the background.  In April 2008, the WSI institute presented a very different report, pointing to a substantial increase in the number of strikes in Germany (see...
Italy: 87.63% of employees of the former Carrozzerie Bertone accept the conditions set out by Fiat to save their job
"We won’t allow a divide between those who want to work and those who want to defend their rights, because we all started this fight together, and we will continue fighting together.  We won’t let...
Portugal: union mobilization against worsening social atmosphere
Demonstration.  After a May Day parade full of slogans against the intervention of the International Monetary Fund and of the European Central Bank, the CGTP (General Confederation of Portuguese...
Belgium: agreement on draft new collective agreement in clothing industry
Purchasing power.  The future agreement, valid between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012, provides for a €0.50 increase in meal tickets on April 1, 2012.  The 2011-2012 cross-industry...
Italy: unitary strike on May Day in the commerce sector
While the CGIL, Cisl and Uil celebrated May Day with a national unitary demonstration in Marsala, Sicily (where Garibaldi’s expedition of the Thousand landed in 1861 when conquering Italy)...
Portugal: struggle between businesses and unions about opening some stores on May Day
Trial of strength.  The CESP, union of trade and services, accused the stores’ managements of blackmailing workers with loosing their jobs.  To try and foil the plan to open on May Day, the union...
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
Oliver Dietrich (IG Metall): “The advent of AI can be a means of deepening social partnership within companies”
In Germany, trade unions want to influence how AI is deployed in companies. Oliver Dietrich is an AI project manager at the regional office of the IG Metall trade union in North Rhine-Westphalia...
2
EU: social partners split over competitiveness and action on job quality
The European Trade Union Confederation and BusinessEurope have published their response to the consultation document on the European Commission's upcoming EU quality jobs initiative. The two...
4 February 2026
3
Germany: collective bargaining negotiations begin in chemical industry
Collective bargaining talks in Germany’s chemical and pharmaceutical industries are due to open this week, covering nearly 580,000 employees across around 1,700 companies. With the sector facing...
3 February 2026
4
Germany: standoff over national plan to boost collective bargaining
Under the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, Germany is required to produce an action plan to boost collective bargaining coverage. That plan has stalled, however, after being blocked by the...
9 February 2026
5
Italy: new generational renewal agreement penned at UniCredit
The agreement signed on 30 December by UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest banking group, with the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions aims to continue generational...
6
France: social partner talks extend far beyond contractual terminations
After a false start on 3 December, French social partners resumed talks on 7 January 2026 on potential changes to the unemployment insurance agreement, including the rules governing compensation...
12 January 2026