Labour relations

The UGT and CCOO, the two trade union bodies, face the employers’ organisations side by side and united in their objective, to create jobs and improve working conditions and salaries. However...

14 November 2016

Italy: Finance Law intends to support 25,000 banking sector job losses

Italy’s 2017 Finance law, which has started out on its parliamentary process, sets aside €648 million over the next five years to assist the 25,000 banking sector employees forecasted to be laid...

11 November 2016

United Kingdom: Scotland comes to the rescue for trade unions facing the Trade Union Act

As fiercely independent as ever and never one to miss an opportunity to demarcate Scotland’s separateness, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has allocated trade unions £250,000 (€284,200) in...

11 November 2016

United States: Republican program intends to “to challenge the anachronistic labor laws”

Although difficult to define clearly, it is likely that the US President elect, Donald Trump’s, future labor relations orientation will be characterized by weaker and criticized trade unions.

9 November 2016

Great Britain: as with Uber, a trade union is putting pressure on Deliveroo

A UK trade union has officially asked management at Deliveroo (a British online food delivery company) for recognition to bargain on behalf of the couriers. Following the recent employment...

9 November 2016

Italy: dispute between Foodora management and bike couriers

Social tension reigns at the Italian subsidiary of German-based online restaurant-prepared food delivery company Foodora. A group of bicycle couriers has undertaken a series of protests against...

9 November 2016

Austria: 1.68% wage increase in metal sector

Facets of the agreement. On Friday 4 November, the Association of Austrian Machinery and Metalware (FMMI), a grouping of employers, and the unions representing industry workers (PRO-GE) and...

4 November 2016

China: a rule legalizing Uber-type taxi services comes into force

Legal clarity dawns. From 01 November 2016, Uber-type taxi services are to be legalized and thus supervised. Every town and city will be able to issue relevant conditions. The text is flexible in...

4 November 2016

Consequences of a ‘hard Brexit’ for EWCs

In her speech at the Conservative Party conference the UK prime minister, Theresa May, seemed to clearly indicate that the UK was heading for a “hard Brexit. This would mean that EU law no longer...

3 November 2016

United Kingdom: UCATT and Unite agree to merge and create super construction union

The British construction workers’ union UCATT is to merge with the country’s largest trade union, Unite. The merger, which will be effective as of 1 January 2017, will create a dominant union in...

3 November 2016

Switzerland: Unia uses its Congress meeting to combat what it sees as social deconstruction

Switzerland’s largest trade union, Unia, gathered in Geneva from 27-29 October for its four-yearly congress meeting. The trade union body with some 200,000 members from various professions...

2 November 2016

Man and Scania secure an agreement safeguarding jobs at global level until 2026

How does one have two companies in the same business sector and in the same business group collaborate together whilst still securing jobs for both and quieting workers concerns? Volkswagen Truck...

2 November 2016

United States: New York creates framework for freelancers

On 27 October, elected representatives in New York City approved a new law entitled “Freelance Isn’t Free” which introduces the first basic rights for freelance workers, governing their...

31 October 2016

Spain: Rajoy proposes social pacts to opposition parties

On the inauguration of his second term in office, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy proposed a series of social pacts to other political groups. In particular, the pacts involve strengthening...

31 October 2016

Hungary : a law aimed at reducing the presence of foreign-owned supermarkets brings down a Hungarian company

In Hungary it is apparently better to work for a multinational company than a domestic firm. In the retail sector, foreign companies will have a union presence more often than homegrown companies...

31 October 2016

Brazil: in the forthcoming 2017 wage negotiations the Sao Paolo IT sector union will call for a drop in weekly working hours from 40 to 30

On 19 October, Sindpd, the major IT sector trade union body representing IT workers in Brazil’s high tech region of Sao Paulo, announced it would be calling for a drop in weekly working hours from...

27 October 2016

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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

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

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

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

Italy: new collective agreement for mechanical engineering and metalworking sectors focuses on defending purchasing power

The deal struck on 22 November between Italy’s social partners in the mechanical engineering and metalworking sector brings an end to a long and contentious bargaining process. The agreement –...

25 November 2025