Germany: women’s average salary is 22.5 % lower than that of men
A study of the Institute of socioeconomic researches (WSI) of the Hans-Böckler Stiftung (a foundation linked to German trade unions) conducted by surveying 60 000 salaried workers, shows that the...
Germany: first warning strikes in the steel industry
The renegotiation of collective agreements in the steel industry (104 000 workers) is making no progress. It started at the end of August in three Western Länder and in former East Germany. IG...
Italy: One third of salaried employees earn less than 1000 euros a month
More than one third of Italian employees must live with less than 1000 euros (take home) per month, according to a study of the Institute of economic and social research (Ires) and the Italian...
Netherlands: wage increases are surprisingly high
Wages are increasing faster than expected this year, according to the annual index of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, published on September 5th. The average increase is 3.8 %, nearly double the...
Total: European negotiations on support of employees’ entrepreneurship and safety at work
Total's management is going to start a negotiation, at the end of the month, on swarming and company solidarity. It also agreed on a future negotiation dealing with safety at work. (Ref 06858)
Intel to cut 10 500 jobs by the middle of 2007
The world's number 1 chipmaker said on Tuesday the 5th, that it would cut its total workforce by 10% in order to increase efficiency and cut costs. 7 500 jobs will disappear by the end of the...
Belgium: the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions demands the transposition of the « information-consultation» directive
« Today, the government is exactly 532 days late for the implementation of the European directive which gives workers a right to information and consultation », reports the Confederation of...
Germany: few firms have a profit sharing system
According to a study introduced on September 5th, 2006 by the Research institute on the job market and trades (IAB), 9 % of German firms provide their employees with a profit-sharing system and 2...
Volkswagen: IG Metall okays the continuation of negotiations
On September 11th, 2006, IG Metall's tariff commission approved the opening of negotiations with VW management. Last Friday, in Hanover, management had submitted a concrete plan to guarantee...
Ireland: until 2016, employment rights will be a priority
The new edition of a national social partnership pact, accepted by the government and social partners, was officially adopted on September 5th. Called « Towards 2016 », it focuses on the...
Irish and Hungarian trade unions sign co-operation agreement
SIPTU, the biggest Irish trade union (200 000 members) and the Democratic Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Hungary, signed at the beginning of the month a co-operation agreement having for...
Luxembourg: a new collective agreement for the building trade
After a long negotiation, a new collective agreement regulating the work and wage conditions of about 13 000 employees of the building trade was signed on August 30th. (Ref 06861)
Lithuania : companies tend to search for workforce abroad
e-europnews September 5, 2006, n°06849 – www.eeuropnews.com
Volkswagen: decisive negotiations on the restructuring of the group
On Friday, September 8th, 2006, negotiations between VW management and labour unions over the restructuring of the group will resume. IG Metall is ready to accept more working hours without wage...
Czech Republic: 1 180 voluntary departures at Mittal Steel Ostrava
The indo-Dutch giant of the metallurgical industry started a vast restructuring operation at its plant in the Czech Republic. The firm supports voluntary departures. (Ref 06845)
Germany: the future of the long-term unemployed and joint management trigger a debate
Press review of August 26th to September 1st, 2006. German newspapers talked a lot about the debate triggered last weekend by the idea of Wolfgang Tiefensee, federal minister of Transport, to have...
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
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
3
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
4
Italy: collective agreement for rubber and plastics sector focuses on new skills
A month ahead of schedule, the Federazione Gomma Plastica employers' organisation and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uiltec trade unions have renewed the collective agreement for the rubber and...
5 January 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