Volkswagen : agreement on return to 34-hour week without wage compensation
The average workweek will pass from 28.8 hours to 33 hours in production and to 34 hours in administrative services without wage compensation. If necessary, the workweek may increase further to 1...
Deutsche Bahn: 130,000 workers launch warning strikes for job security
Following the failure of management-union negotiations, Transnet, the main railway workers union, has decided to launch today a first wave of warning strikes, an initiative in accordance with the...
Veolia Environment: first meeting of the European WC
Having set up by an agreement of October, 2005, the European works council of Veolia Environment met for the first time, on September 21st, 2006, to undertake the election of the bureau and...
Germany : trade unions satisfied by temporary assessment of Work’s councils elections
The Confederation of German trade unions (DGB) introduced, on 28 September 2006, a temporary assessment of the electoral results (work's councils) of last spring. Almost 50% of the results are...
PSA: Spanish labour unions incredulous after management announces a revival plan
The staff cuts announced by PSA on September 26th surprised and upset Spanish labour unions UGT and CCOO. (Ref. 06953)
SABMiller Europe: a European work’s council under Hungarian law
SABMiller Europe management and workers' representatives of the special group of negotiation signed, on August 16th, 2006, an agreement on the creation of a European WC governed by Hungarian law...
VWR International: analysis of the agreement on the new European works council
The German company International VWR signed, on June 14th, 2006, an agreement to create a EWC that covers 13 Member States as well as Norway and Switzerland. The EWC will be chaired by management...
Axa : debates over the fate of Winterthur’s European WC
After the acquisition of the Swiss insurer Winterthur by Axa, announced on June 14th of this year, and the real takeover which should take place on January 1st 2007, Axa's management and its...
Great Britain: several important laws come into force on October 1st
The entrance in accordance with law against discriminations based on age is a very waited and important reform. Another text will come to regulate the provisioning of hand of work in agriculture...
Netherlands: strike in Rotterdam’s public transportation system
A 24 hour strike, launched by labour unions, on September 25th, in the public transportation network of Rotterdam, was followed at 100 %. Its objective: to protest against the social consequences...
TUC asks CBI and government to make more efforts for observance of minimum wage
Trade Union Congress wants government to increase pressure and sanctions on employers who violate the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rules. Unions notably demand the introduction of a jail sentence...
Smithfield: towards a European works council after the takeover of Sara Lee Food Europe
Further to the approval given by the European Commission, July 28th, 2006, on the plan of buyout of Sara Lee Foods Europe (SLFE) by the common firm created by Smithfield Foods and an investment...
Latvia: minimum wage will increase significantly
The minimum wage should amount to 50% of the average gross salary by 2010, compared to 38 % today. The government's aim is to boost economic growth and development, and to limit the emigration...
Poland: employers and labour unions reluctant to apply new law on works councils
In Poland, the law of April 7th, 2006 on workers' information and consultation (also called new law on works councils, see our article n°06556) has a lot of trouble to impose itself. Before...
Allianz: agreement signed on employee representation at Allianz EC
In the future, employees will be represented at the European level within two authorities:  
Arkema: negotiations on the creation of a European work’s council
After an agreement, in May, 2006, on a group work's council and a group union coordination, management of the chemical group Arkema set up a special group of negotiation to create a European works...
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
Pascale Rauline (Axa EWC): “European charter formalises ongoing and accelerated social dialogue on AI”
On 27 November, Axa and its European works council (EWC) signed a charter setting out principles governing the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and guaranteeing social dialogue on the...
2
Germany: crisis-hit industries cast shadow over 2026 bargaining cycle
In 2026, collective wage agreements for nearly 10 million employees in Germany are set to expire. With upcoming negotiations in crisis-hit 'pilot' sectors such as chemicals and metalworking, the...
2 December 2025
3
Bulgaria: government approves bill to encourage sector-level collective bargaining
On 26 November, the Bulgarian government approved amendments to the labour code designed to reinforce the legal framework for sector-level collective bargaining. The reform aims to stimulate...
2 December 2025
4
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
5
Inditex European works council mobilises on value sharing
In a joint statement, 10 trade unions comprising the European works council of the Inditex clothing group are calling for rallies in Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany...
6
Germany: Erwin Hymer Group’s innovative and award-winning AI agreement
Fed up with negotiating separate agreements for each new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, the social partners at Erwin Hymer Group (8,900 employees) have instead secured a broad, overarching...
12 December 2025