Labour relations

Trade unionism is starting to build a foothold in the new economy, a trend that has impacted two subsidiaries of Spotify as well as tech workers at the New York Times, with efforts focused on...

16 April 2021

Germany: agreement at Volkswagen on a salary increase and an ‘options-based model’ for working time

During the night of 12/13 April and approximately two weeks after the metal industry’s pilot collective agreement was adopted (c.f. article No.12446), management at German car manufacturer...

14 April 2021

United States: Amazon fortress holds in face of unionisation effort

After the failed unionisation campaign at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama, activists plan to turn their attentions to the US Congress as well as to other sites of the US online retail giant.

12 April 2021

Italy: ENI oil group secures agreement on up-skilling and generational renewal

Signed on 01 April by ENI and the Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uilca trade unions under the auspices of Italy’s Ministry of Labour, the agreement will enable 900 employees to take voluntary early...

8 April 2021

EU: a broad switch to telework is presenting trade unions with both challenges and opportunities to reconnect with their grassroots

‘Telework is here to stay and unions need to learn how to organise workers online and address their concerns.’ With this in mind, IndustriAll Europe, the European industry trade union federation...

7 April 2021

United Kingdom: PwC unveils hybrid model for post-pandemic working, combining remote and in-office work

On 30 March professional services firm PwC announced that its 22,000 UK employees will be able to continue flexible working once the Covid-19 pandemic has passed and will be able to go to the...

2 April 2021

Great Britain: Unite launches a confidential hotline for Amazon whistleblowers

As of 29 March, Amazon UK’s 40,000 employees who claim to have witnessed or been victims of bad practices can contact Unite directly by way of a dedicated hotline number and email. With...

1 April 2021

Germany: pilot agreement struck the metallurgy industry in North Rhine-Westphalia

As expected, at daybreak on Tuesday 30 March, and following months of tense negotiations that have been marked by several warning strikes, the social partners in the metallurgy industry concluded...

30 March 2021

United States: trade union activists at Amazon and Alphabet share their tips

Following the close on 29 March of a more than month-long unionization poll of Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, the vote counting process has commenced and the results are expected...

30 March 2021

Germany: steel industry workers obtain ‘Covid bonus’ and additional annual payments

On Saturday 27 March, social partners in the steel industry of norther Germany struck a new collective agreement for the 70,000 employees in the sector, in the Länder of North Rhine-Westphalia...

29 March 2021

United States: NLRB orders Elon Musk to delete a tweet threatening employees tempted by union representation

Could Twitter become a new terrain for industrial relations? That idea is perhaps not so appealing to the US National Labor Relations Board, which has ordered electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla...

29 March 2021

Spain: collective agreement for large retailers provisionally renewed, integrating law on remote work

On 24 March, the trade unions CCOO, Fagsa, Fetico and UGT penned an agreement with Anged, the association of large retailers in Spain, which partially renews the sector’s collective agreement...

26 March 2021

EU: ETUC seeks to help its members strategically reposition given the democratic and social challenges in the post-Covid-19 era

Based on the observation that the pandemic ‘removes all our certainties’ and necessarily leads us to reflect upon the world of tomorrow, the ETUC’s Rethinking project seeks to...

25 March 2021

Canada: government launches consultation on protections for ‘Gig Workers’ and on a ‘Right to Disconnect’ for federally regulated workers

Adapting labour rights to ensure that they are consistent with ‘the new realities of Canadian workers.’ Thus the government’s objective announced on 18 March with the launch of...

23 March 2021

Sodexo: declaration of intent signed with IUF to improve protection of staff, including when working at client sites

Sodexo, the French food services and facilities management company, and the IUF (International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’...

22 March 2021

Italy: banking sector social partners secure agreement on workplace vaccinations

Following the recent industrial sector agreement (c.f. article No.12411), Italy’s banking sector is also making itself available for an employee vaccination program. The agreement dated 17...

19 March 2021

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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...

8 December 2025

mind RH analysis – Initial findings from CSRD social indicators

In 2025, for the first time, the universal registration documents of major European companies contain the sustainability reporting required by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive...

31 October 2025

Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”

Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...

20 October 2025

France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy

On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its...

15 October 2025

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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...

3 December 2025

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

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

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

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...

24 November 2025

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