Spain: two union leaders explain their organization’s bargaining strategy in the auto industry
On November 21, Renault presented its industrial plan detailing its project to enhance activities in the Iberian peninsula. The carmaker plans to have a new model made at the Valladolid and...
Sweden: manufacturing unions call for minimum 2.8 percent wage increase for 2013
Industrifacken, the association of manufacturing unions made up of Sveriges Ingenjörer (the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers), Unionen (the Trade Union for Professionals in the Private...
United States: Walmart in spotlight for opening on Thanksgiving night
Walmart, the global retail market leader, was forced to respond to the movement organized to denounce its social practices during the sales following Thanksgiving Day. The conflict, brought to the...
Great Britain: Virgin Media successfully derecognises CWU and BECTU
Virgin Media has won its battle to derecognise two unions within its operations. In a ballot conducted over a two week period, workers voted to derecognise the two sole recognised unions, the CWU...
SAS: the airline’s unions forced to accept major concessions
"We have almost completely transformed the company in record time. It is a first yet crucial step" rejoiced SAS CEO Rickard Gustafson at a press conference on November 19, announcing that the 8...
22 November 2012
Italy: new “Productivity Pact” formally adopted, but not by the CGIL
As expected, the "Productivity Pact" is the result of a separate agreement. Yesterday, in Rome, the government and the social partners, except for the CGIL, signed the agreement on "Guidelines for...
ThyssenKrupp Elevator: new European agreement signed with IndustriAll Europe introduces a system of idea management to improve health and safety
On November 14, IndustriAll Europe, manufacturing union, signed its first European agreement with a German company, namely ThyssenKrupp Elevator. This agreement confirms the key role played by...
Italy: textile and footwear unions sign unitary platform renewing national collective agreement
On November 15, the Femca-Cisl, Filctem-CGIL and Uilta-Uil unions approved the unitary platform renewing the national collective agreement in textile, clothing and footwear (over 500,000...
Portugal: social partners launch negotiations on the introduction of a duodecimal bonus system
The Portuguese government promised unions and employers a bargaining round for the application of the duodecimal system for bonuses given in the private sectors (i.e. over two years). The social...
Belgium: pay freeze in 2013 and 2014 without questioning the indexation on inflation
The government run by socialist Elio Di Rupo reached an agreement on the draft 2013 budget providing for a pay freeze in the country, which will not affect average and low wages and minimum wage...
Germany: Verdi starts another war against T-Mobile USA (Deutsche Telekom), accused of “psychological terror” against employees trying to join a union
The Verdi services union is going on the offensive again denouncing the "primary antiunion" attitude of T-Mobile USA's management since the company was created in 2001. Based on a recent internal...
20 November 2012
Sweden: guaranteed hourly pay for agency workers
After 7 months bargaining, an agreement was finally reached for the 60,000 agency workers on October 17. signed between LO (landsorganisationen, the Swedish Trade Union Confederation) and Almega...
Italy: social partners reach agreement on the “Productivity Pact” requested by Monti
Towards a decentralized conventional system.  After the separate agreement reforming the collective bargaining system was signed on January 22, 2008 (see our dispatch No.  090080) and the...
Sweden: to get round unions’ veto on signing crisis agreements, businesses negotiate amendments to the labor contract directly with their employees
The case of Parker Hannifin in Trollhättan.  Created in 1918, Parker Hannifin Corporation is the global leader in motion and control technologies, employing 60,000 people around the world –  1,200...
19 November 2012
ZF Friedrichshafen: IG-Metall union and car part maker fight over the implementation of the company’s international framework agreement
On October 5, ZF Friedrichshafen, one of the world leaders in ground transmission and liaison systems, signed with union and employee representatives an international framework agreement (IFA) on...
Corporate practices: BMW launches TaLENT, a more flexible training scheme focusing on the talents identified among apprentices
Demographic ageing, production changes - harder to plan than they used to be - and quick technological change are forcing businesses to come up with new HR management and training policies. In...
19 November 2012
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
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
6
France: Orange submits gender equality agreement – including AI provisions – for union approval
The three representative trade unions at Orange France have until 10 December to validate an agreement on gender equality, work–life balance and anti-discrimination measures. While the text...