Spain: a new general secretary for the Workers’ Commission
ge (see our dispatch No. 081011). After a tight vote, the representatives gathered for the 9th Congress elected, on Friday, December 19, Ignacio Fernando Toxo, until then number 2 in the union...
Germany: postal minimum wage ruled illegal by second instance
The regional administrative court of Berlin Brandenburg confirmed a ruling of first instance rendered in March 2008. According to the judges, the federal government may not impose the rate of...
Brazil: businesses want more flexible labor laws to face the crisis
The Brazilian mining giant, Vale Do Rio Doce, took the lead of a protest movement requesting the government brings flexibility into labor law to face the production decline. Several Brazilian...
19 December 2008
Slovenia: social program of the new governmental coalition
e end of September 2008, the right-wing parties that formed the previous Government lost made way for a new collation of left-wing parties. Before appointing the new Government, the coalition...
Austria: social conflicts defused at the Austrian post and telecom
The two social conflicts which threatened to ruin holidays for Austrians and for the new federal government were defused, both at the post and at Telekom Austria. The managements of the two...
Italy: bargaining for the collective agreement at Fiat comes up against the crisis which leads to the closing of all sites for partial unemployment
The first meeting for the renewal of the company agreement of the group Fiat (see our dispatch No. 080805) was held in Turin on December 16, 2008. This is the first time such negotiations took...
Air France-KLM: interview with Gehan Colliander, former general secretary of the European works council
European works council, Gehan Colliander, left at the end of 2008. She goes back over the way the council managed to work from the two models of social relations – French and Dutch –...
Italy: almost a million and a half took part in the national strike organized by the CGIL
The CGIL is satisfied with the mobilization it launched against the government's economic policy to face the crisis. However, the government, employers and its rival union federation, the Cisl...
Netherlands: the Frijns Commission disappoints unions regarding managers’ pay
The Frijns Commission, in charge of monitoring compliance with businesses' compliance with the "Tabaksblat" code of good behavior, presented its final recommendations on December 12, 2008. The one...
Netherlands: unions want a 3.5% wage increase in 2009
The largest Dutch union, the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) decided to maintain in 3.5% wage claim for 2009, despite the crisis. In doing so, it rejected the calls made by Maria van der...
Slovakia: businesses prepare to introduce euro
Preparation is underway in Slovakia for the introduction of the Euro. Indeed, on January 1, 2009 Slovakia becomes the 16th country to join the European Union's common currency. New acts have been...
Spain: stakes of the 9th congress of the Workers’ Commission union (CCOO) to be held in Madrid on December 17-20
Two applicants. José Maria Fidalgo defends his report and the negotiating capacity of the CCOO, which established itself as the country’s main union force, before the UGT, the other large...
Germany: evaluation of collective agreements in 2008 and prospects for 2009
The Economic and Social Institute (WSI) and the Hans Blocker Foundation - German unions' think tank" - drew the first conclusions of the collective agreements signed in 2008. In terms of...
Italy: report on labor transformations
More social conflicts, increase of atypical labor, unemployment and female employment: these are the main labor changes brought forward by the 42nd report of the "Censis" research institute...
Mexico: increasing number of underemployed skilled workers
Labor market statistics show that 7% of Mexican workers are looking for a second job. Among skilled workers, who have an average or upper education level, the number of "underemployed" increased...
United States: auto bailout leads to trial of strength
The State to the rescue. This amount would be taken – as loans spread on 7 years – from a $25 billion fund created in September to improve gas consumption standards in the automobile industry...
9 December 2008
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
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...
3
United Kingdom: launch of consultation on protection against detriment for industrial action
The British government launched a public consultation on 26 February regarding new protections for workers against "detriment" related to industrial action, scheduled to take effect in October...
12 March 2026
4
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...
5
Germany: controversial collective bargaining compliance act adopted
On 26 February, the Bundestag approved the Tariftreuegesetz (collective bargaining compliance act), aimed at strengthening collective agreements and tackling social dumping by tying certain public...
26 February 2026
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