Germany : privatization of Deutsche Bahn now seems uncertain
Once more, the parties of the big coalition (CDU and SPD) failed to agree, during an important meeting on October 26th in Berlin, on how to privatize Deutsche Bahn AG. The following day, Transport...
Malta: government wants to change the mode of calculation of trade union enrolments
The Maltese government wants to reform the rules applying to trade unions as regards the determination of their enrolment. This comes after a controversy triggered by a trade union which had not...
Spain: HR directors have less and less influence on companies’ strategic decisions
HR directors are losing power when it comes to firms' management and strategic decisions, according to a study conducted by the ESADE institute in Barcelona. The study found that HR directors do...
Deutsche Telekom: 45 000 T-Com employees will be transferred to the new T-Service unit
Deutsche Telekom (DT) has just announced its intention to transfer some 45 000 employees of T-Com to its new subsidiary T-Service, with the aim to bring back salaries to a competitive level. DT...
Germany : BenQ’s bankruptcy affects its outside contractors
The bankruptcy of the cell phone producer BenQ (ex-Siemens), means the loss of 1900 jobs out of 3000. The outside contractors are also affected and are starting to lay off. IG Metall says 6000...
Allianz SE : « participation » chapter now in the agreement on workers’ involvement in the European company
The German insurance group Allianz, which announced its transformation into a European company, concluded an agreement on the involvement of workers in the European company (see article n°06938)...
Lithuania: trade unions and employers propose to increase minimum wage
Trade unions and employers would like the minimum wage to be raised, from 600 litas (173.77 euros) to 700 litas (202.73 euros) on January 1st 2007, but the Government has not yet approved this...
Eternit: a foundation for asbestos victims in Switzerland
On September 14th, 2006, Eternit created a foundation to financially support the employees of the Swiss plants of Payerne and Niederurnen which are ill due to asbestos, as well as their family...
25 October 2006
Great Britain : trade union Amicus launches information and prevention campaign related to crystalline silica
This campaign is a part of the European Safety Week and multi-sectoral agreement on breathable crystalline silica signed by European social partners on last April 25th and which has come into...
Daimler-Chrysler: the conflict between workers’ representatives in Germany worsens
How to deal with Daimler-Chrysler' s management? Since 1998, the official works council and a group of more critical staff representatives have been fighting over this question at the...
Netherlands: call to strike at Floraholland
The Confederation of Dutch trade unions (FNV Bondgenoten) called for a one-day strike on October 30th, which might paralyze Floraholland, the second auction flower market in the Netherlands. 215...
Luxembourg: minimum wage due to increase in January 2007
The October 19th, 2006 governmental council approved a bill regarding a raise of the minimum wage. The 1.9% increase should become effective on January 1st, 2007. (Ref. 061054)
Germany: the chemical industry union (IG BCE) presents its demands regarding the 2007 tariff negotiations.
After the German chemical industry underwent a 6% growth in sales (81.2 billion euros) during the first semester 2006, IG BCE wants to put wage increases and apprenticeship at the center of the...
Czech republic: wage negotiations to start in companies
In two weeks, the wage negotiations for the next year will begin in large companies. The main trade-union confederation (CMKOS) announced its intention to ask for a wage increase of 7%, and even...
Germany : BenQ Mobile cuts more than 1900 jobs
Three weeks after having filed for bankruptcy, the German mobile phones producer, BenQ Mobile (former phone division of Siemens) announced, on October 19th, 2006, that it wanted to get rid of two...
Austria : failure of negotiations on collective agreements in the iron and steel industry
Management and labour in the iron and steel industry (180 000 employees) separated after failing to reach agreement for the third time in two months. On Thursday, the employers rejected 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
France: CDC Habitat defines a framework and means for social dialogue on AI
In an agreement signed on 23 February with trade unions, the subsidiary of CDC (Caisse des dépôts et consignations) Habitat (10,800 employees) guarantees that AI solutions will only...
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
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...
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
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
6
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