Labour relations

Less than 3 weeks after the announcement of the launch of a Google labour union (the Alphabet Workers Union) in the United States an international coalition of 13 Google unions (Verdi, Unionen...

26 January 2021

Belgium: negotiations for the next national inter-professional agreement sticking over the salary standard

This is a key moment for Belgium’s labor relations. The bi-annual inter-professional agreement as negotiated by the ‘Group of 10’ representatives of the country’s private...

26 January 2021

United States: rate of union membership rises despite fall in member numbers, due to decline in wage and salary employment

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of workers in the US who are members of a trade union fell by 321,000 to 14.3 million, according to a report published on 22 January by the Bureau of Labor...

25 January 2021

EU: recommendations from European trade union federations to help EWC representatives manage the impact of Brexit

The trade union federations IndustriAll Europe, Uni Europa, EFFAT, EPSU, ETF and EFBWW have issued “joint […] recommendations to EWC/SE coordinators and worker representatives in SNBs, EWCs and...

22 January 2021

TK Elevator: signs a global framework agreement

On 25 November 2020 the TK Elevator group (TKE group) together with IndustriALL Global union, the German works council, the European Works Council and the German trade union federation IG Metall...

21 January 2021

France: Solvay signs teleworking agreement that implements the group’s new global mobile working policy

On 18 December 2020, Belgian chemicals group Solvay signed an agreement with the French CFDT and CFE-CGC trade unions, albeit without the CGT union, to enhance flexibility by giving employees in...

20 January 2021

Great Britain: fresh decision on European Works Councils against the backdrop of Verizon’s transfer of its representative agent to Ireland and the removal of UK representatives

Is this the final episode in the Verizon European Works Council (EWC) saga? Barring a reversal on appeal, it would appear that despite its determined activism, the Verizon EWC (c.f. articles...

19 January 2021

Italy: generational renewal efforts more intense than expected at Intesa Sanpaolo, which announces 1,000 additional young hires

On 14 January 2021, Intesa Sanpaolo, which is currently integrating its recent takeover target, UBI Banca, announced it will hire 3,500 young people by the first half of 2024, i.e. 1,000 more than...

19 January 2021

Solvay: global agreement on minimum levels of protection revised to align paternity and co-parent leave with maternity leave

On 15 December 2020, the management of the Belgian chemicals firm Solvay and its global staff representation body, the Solvay Global Forum (see article n°10248), revised their first global...

18 January 2021

United Kingdom: trade unions boosted by the pandemic (study)

Amid a technological boom, positive results in negotiations with the government and an upsurge in membership, UK trade unions have enjoyed an unprecedented revival during this health crisis...

18 January 2021

United States: unionisation campaign at Amazon in Alabama

Amazon employees at one of the e-commerce giant’s fulfilment centres – in Birmingham, Alabama – are to vote on whether they want to join a trade union. The process will be...

18 January 2021

Great Britain: Morrisons is set to become the first UK supermarket to pay its employees at least £10 (€11.20) per hour

This new basic hourly rate of £10 per hour (€11.22 E) was negotiated as part of a wage agreement by the retail trade union, Usdaw, which is now asking its members to formally accept...

14 January 2021

Germany: IG Metall calling to reset the balance between employee and capital representatives on corporate supervisory boards

German trade unions are starting call for a shift in the current distribution of voting rights on corporate supervisory boards between shareholder representatives and those representing employees...

5 January 2021

United States: Google gets a trade union

Two software engineers working at the Alphabet group, Google's parent company, have just triggered a ‘mini-bomb’ in the form of their newly created Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) that is affiliated...

5 January 2021

Inditex: clothing giant makes commitment with European Works Council to preserve jobs despite transformation plan

Following the announcement of a strategic transformation and digitalisation plan, the management of Inditex, the parent company of the prêt-à-porter brands Zara and Pull & Bear...

4 January 2021

Suspension of the information thread during Christmas break

The team at Planet Labor would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your loyal readership and to wish you a joyful and peaceful end-of-year. We look forward to re-opening the site on...

18 December 2020

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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