Austria : failure of negotiations on collective agreements in the iron and steel industry
Management and labour in the iron and steel industry (180 000 employees) separated after failing to reach agreement for the third time in two months. On Thursday, the employers rejected the...
Finland : strike and clash between unions and management at Finnair
Cabin personnel of the Finnish airline, Finnair, have been on strike since 4 am Thursday October 19 in protest against the announcement of the recruitment of 500 cabin employees through its...
20 October 2006
Belgium: reaction of social partners to the declaration of federal policy
The Belgian business federation (FEB) welcomed the bill tabled by the government. Featuring a budget with O.3% in excess of gross domestic product, ie. One billion euros. “It is a positive step...
Fresenius AG announces its transformation into a European Company (SE)
Fresenius, a major German company specialized in equipment, medical and pharmaceutical services, will introduce to its shareholders a plan to transform its legal status during the next general...
ING: the bank presents an exemplary social plan according to the De Unie
The management of ING bank and the union De Unie reached agreement on October 4 on a social plan linked to the restructuring announced on November 2, 2005 featuring the outsourcing of 2200 jobs...
General Motors : management and workers agree on terms for closing of Portugal plant
GM will notably give two months' salary to each worker and for each year worked at Azambuja plant. The plant is due to close on next December 21st. The factory produced the Combo, but this...
Airbus Germany gets rid of 1000 temporary workers
It is the first numbered decision concerning the staff reduction at Airbus Germany. The contracts of 1000 temporary workers, out of the 7300 temporary workers employed by Airbus Germany, will not...
Lithuania : Salaries rose by 11% last year
Real salaries (inflation-deducted) were up 6.8%. Strong wage increases were reported in the health care, social care and building sectors. (Ref. 061034)
Belgium: trade unions refuse austerity and wage moderations
Before the launching of negotiations on the future cross-industry agreement, the two main Belgian trade union federations, the FGTB and the CSC, have introduced a common list of union demands...
Germany: strong increase in top-managers’ wages in 2005
While a virulent debate has opened in Germany on the appearance of a new "proletariat", the salaries of DAX 30 companies' top managers have increased by 11% on average between 2004 and 2005...
Netherlands : the two main trade union federations reject the new «on-line » trade union, accused of selling off workers’ interests
The two biggest Dutch trade union federations have decided to exclude the trade union of executives, De Unie, from the negotiations over the new collective agreement in the light metal sector. The...
Ryanair : management faces industrial action in Spain and Italy
Italian cabin crew and Spanish luggage handlers have launched strikes to protest against management's policies. These workers are members of trade unions and say Ryanair refuses to deal with trade...
17 October 2006
Spain : fiscal administration notices a development of low-qualified and badly paid jobs
Half of the newly employed Spanish people earned less than the SMI (minimum wage) in 2005, according to the annual statistic report of the fiscal administration, published on 13 October...
Germany: Peter Hartz, former HR manager of Volkswagen, admits his role in works council corruption scandal
According to the public prosecutor's department of Braunschweig, Peter Hartz, Volkswagen's former emblematic HR manager, acknowledged on October 9th, 2006, during a cross-examination, having paid...
16 October 2006
International Metalworkers’ Federation renews commitment to International Framework Agreements
During its World Conference which took place on September 26th and 27th 2006, the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) discussed how to improve IFA's and use them as a tool in the building...
Lithuania: discussion on the lowering of taxes and social contributions
This week, politicians, entrepreneurs and trade union representatives are discussing the issue of employers' social contributions in the Lithuanian Parliament. (Ref. 061019)
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
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Germany: Volkswagen cancels almost all collective bargaining agreements signed with IG Metall
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Germany: Employers’ representatives seek to limit the rights of works councils
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