News

Netherlands: the future government’s social program
The new labor-liberal government formed after the legislative election of September 12 presented, on October 29, a coalition agreement which contains major social measures, including cuts to...
Austria: despite every indication, collective negotiations in the metal industry should keep growing apart
Five of the six separate bargaining rounds that recently took place in the Austrian metal industry have had the same outcome: wage increases between 3 and 3.4 percent depending on the position in...
Italy: separate agreement with employers to renew the national collective agreement in the food industry
On October 27, the trade unions in the food industry (Fai-Cisl, Flai-CGIL and Uila-Uil) signed the agreement renewing the national collective agreement for the food industry 2012-2015, which...
30 October 2012
Germany: MAN, the heavy truck manufacturer, puts 15,000 staff on “forced vacation” for a week
Affected by the economic crisis, the largest truck manufacturer in Europe, MAN, stopped production for one week on October 29 for two German sites, in Munich and Salzgitter. This measure should...
30 October 2012
Slovenia: bills on pension, employment and labour market reforms introduced
The Slovene Government adopted on 18 October 2012 the following three pieces of legislation:
Spain: how small Spanish organizations are fostering equal opportunities in the workplace
Equal opportunity plans are voluntary for companies or entities with less than 250 employees, according to Law 3/2007 of 22 March 2007. In 2012, 21 percent of all companies awarded the label...
26 October 2012
Great Britain: Morrisons launches university training for managers
While logistics are becoming increasingly complicated in retail trade, the Morrisons supermarket chain is offering its sales supervisors a degree in management and logistics. (Ref. 120636)
Great Britain: High Court allows the application of the statutory union recognition procedure for employees who do not live in Great Britain but who are covered by UK law
The determination by the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to allow the application by the Skyshare union for recognition was challenged by the company on the grounds that the CAC had no...
24 October 2012
Spain: BBVA signs agreement on staffing cuts demanded by Brussels after the banking group took over the Unnim Banc savings banks group
The BBVA bank and the trade unions announced that they signed a draft agreement which should lead to a 40 percent staffing cut at the Unnim Banc savings bank. This is to comply with Brussels'...
EU: 2013, a blank year for social Europe
Yesterday, October 23, the College of Commissioners adopted its 2013 Work Program. Every year, we detail the (few) measures that affect the labor world. This year, the news is quite different: in...
24 October 2012
Netherlands: negotiations are stuck in the rubber plastic industry
The plastic and rubber industry, which employs 3,500 people, has not had a collective agreement since July. Negotiations are stuck on the issue of pensions and unions are starting to protest...
Total: new amendment to the EWC agreement
On October, 8, the oil group signed, with three European trade union organizations (FECCIA, FECER and IndustriAll) and the representative French trade union organizations for the group, a new...
Netherlands: understanding what is happening to the Dutch Labor Federation, FNV
The FNV, the country's key union federation, has been going through a crisis for a year. Federations rebelling, others leaving, one of the key stakeholders of the polder system is currently...
Sweden: LO confederation proposes new method for calculating wage increases
LO (landsorganisationen), the Swedish Trade Union Confederation which gathers 14 federations, has presented its claims for the 2013 bargaining session. In order to reconcile competitiveness for...
Italy: conflict in telecom industry over the renewal of the sector’s national collective agreement
Announcing a turnout "beyond all expectations" for the strike on Friday, October 19, telecom unions warned the Asstel employers' organization that the renewal of the national collective agreement...
Austria: up to 3.4 percent wage increase in the metal industry
On Friday, October 15, the Pro.GE (manufacturing) and GPA-djp (private sector) unions and the FMMI which, with 1,200 businesses and 120,000 employees, is the largest employers' organization...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
AI: uneven integration but a global challenge for the world of work
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in business is profoundly transforming the world of work, and some occupations are now under threat. However, the full extent of its effects remains...
2
France: Ministry of Labour unveils plan to accelerate the rollout of AI
On 22 September, the French Ministry of Labour presented a plan named Impulsion IA 2027 aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI by companies and employees. It contains 12 measures applicable from...
3
Germany: AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt raises concerns over labour supply and workplace cohesion
The rise of Germany’s far-right AfD, which could soon gain influence over migration policy in Saxony-Anhalt and, following elections on September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as well, is...
4
Netherlands: towards a ban on housing cost deductions from migrant workers’ wages
The news. On September 10, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Hans Vijlbrief (centre-left) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, stating that he intends to prohibit employers...
5
Denmark: introduction of a professional ID card for construction site workers
The news. On 3 September, the Danish Parliament adopted a bill introducing a mandatory professional ID card for people working on large construction sites. The card will include, among other...
6
UE: Commission proposes measures to facilitate “fair” worker mobility across the Union
The info. On 15 September, the European Commission adopted a series of measures aimed at encouraging “fair” worker mobility within the EU. It wants to remove the administrative...