Italy: Fiom wins first appeal against the application of the 2009 separate agreement on the metal CCN
While the Fiom presented its appeal to the Turin court against Fiat for “antiunion behavior” in the procedure used for the Pomigliano and Mirafiori newcos, the CGIL’s metalworkers’ federation won...
Germany: two temporary employers’ organizations merge before decisive negotiations on equal pay
Employers’ organizations in a hurry.  The BZA and AMP implemented the planned merger mentioned last autumn (see our dispatch No.  100692).  The new federation is located in Berlin and called the...
Portugal: strike notice suspended in chain stores and negotiations starting up
Conciliation.  The CESP, union of trade, service and office workers, suspended the strike notice presented for the Easter period, because negotiations with employers reopened.  A first...
Italy: unitary agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement of the Poste Italiane
After “long and difficult negotiations” during which, according to unions, only “unity and homogeneity” helped overcome “unjustified rigidity” from the group’s management, SLP-Cisl, SLC-CGIL...
Germany: IG-Metall wants to limit appeal to temporary work as in Thuringia
Combining economic subsidies and volume of temporary employment.  On Wednesday, April 13th, the IG-Metall Frankfurt and its general secretary, Armin Schild, met with the Minister of Economic...
Spain: agreement on collective bargaining reform stuck on the fight against absenteeism and the creation of a youth contract
The signature of the social partners’ agreement on the reform of collective bargaining is running a little late.  So far, the debate between the social partners focused on the issue of improving...
Belgium: start of the negotiations for the new collective agreement in electricity and gas
Harmonizing statuses.  While energy prices keep increasing, employers plead a wage increase contained in the 2011-2012 cross-industry agreement, i.e. 0.3% maximum (see our dispatch No.  110122). ...
Germany: GDL train drivers’ union and Deutsche Bahn sign three collective agreements
Towards pay unity for all train drivers.  At a joint press conference with Ulrich Weber, DB HR manager, Claus Weselsky, GDL leader, rejoiced with the signature of these agreements which put an end...
Denmark: close watch over the working environment of the LM Wind Power ‘green giant’
Denouncing unprotected styrene exposure for the employees of LM Wind Powers, the Berlingske Tidende daily published, on February 20th, an alarming survey on the working environment in the group’s...
15 April 2011
Germany: 5.3% increase over 24 months in building and civil engineering
Wolfgang Clement, former Minister of Economic Affairs under Gerhard Schröder and mediator appointed by the social partners in building and civil engineering in early April, presented on Thursday...
Ireland: new government faces heavy social agenda
Collective bargaining.  The wind is turning for Irish trade unions.  The government coalition that came out of the February election is working on a legal framework strengthening the right to...
Netherlands: agreement in the light metal industry
Mobilization in preparation for a strike allowed unions to reach, on April 6th, an agreement in principle on the next collective agreement in the light metal industry (Metaal & Techniek) which...
EU: “European future should be based on a constructive trade unionism” – John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation
John Monks.  I have had enjoyable 8 years as general secretary of the ETUC and I have appreciated the privilege of doing this particular job. We have been in an era when workers have been more on...
13 April 2011
Italy: tourism social partners sign framework agreement on tax exemption for productivity wages
Federalberghi, Fipe, Fiavet, Faita, Confcommercio-Imprese per l’Italia and Federreti for employers and Filcams-CGIL, Fisascat-Cisl and Uiltucs-Uil for unions signed, on April 7th, a framework...
Finland: paper production white collars affiliated with Pro union go on strike
Paper production suspended.  The movement, which currently affects nearly 1,500 UPM employees, also affects the company’s headquarters in Helsinki, administrative and financial services, notably...
Portugal: social concern after asking the IMF and the European Stabilization Fund for help
Warning.  The CGTP warned against the consequences of outside intervention to support the Portuguese economy.  After an extraordinary meeting of the union confederation’s economic council, the...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
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What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026
Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14...
16 October 2025
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
4
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
5
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...
6
Germany: legal battle at Tesla ahead of works council election
The Frankfurt/Oder labour court has postponed a mid-November hearing in the case between the IG Metall union and Michaela Schmitz, employee representative and head of the works council at the...