News

Spain: two CCOO federations merger to create a large industry sector federation
The CCOO's federal council gave the green light, on April 24, to the fusion of two of its large federations, the metallurgy federation (FM-CCOO) and the textile and chemistry industries...
Belgium: the CSC presented its Memorandum with in preparation for the legislative elections
After listening to the FGTB (see our story n°070352,) the leaders of the eight French and Dutch speaking democratic parties answered to the CSC (christian union) invitation to debate on its...
United Kingdom: an NGO denounced the absence of respect and controls of the ethical charters adopted as part of the Ethical Trade Initiative
The ethical charters signed by the British supermarkets in favour of a trade based on solidarity and responsible with their suppliers from developing countries are only covers to appear honorable...
25 April 2007
General Motors : the union coordination lead by the IMF is asking the management to respect union rights
The International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) brought together its network of union representatives within GM (GM's actions group) on April 18 and 19 in Antwerp, in order to examine the...
Netherlands: strikes are getting shorter
In the Netherlands, strikes are shorter and shorter and less and less harmful for economic activity, underlined the Central Statistics Office (CBS). (Ref. 070371)
Sweden: the government suggested mandatory unemployment insurance
The Swedish Labour Minister announced that he wanted to make it mandatory to adhere to an unemployment insurance fund, which was until now voluntary in the kingdom. According to him, this plan...
Spain: the CCOO postal federation launched a petition against the sector’s early liberalization
The postal sector of the Federation of Communication and Transportation FCT-CCOO launched an internet campaign in order to sensitize the European Commission and the Spanish government to its...
Netherlands: social agreement with three bus companies
An agreement was negotiated on the night between April 23 and April 24 between unions and the three bus companies, Arriva, Connexxion and Veolia. Unions gained satisfaction on their main claim...
Arcelor Mittal: the steel group is going to sign an agreement on the new European works council
The steel group Arcelor Mittal's management and employees' representatives came to an agreement, on April 19, 2007, in Aviles (Spain,) during the fourth negotiation meeting on the establishment of...
United Kingdom: annual report on the unionization rate
The unionization rate for British employees went from 29% to 28.4% between 2005 and 2006, a 0.6 point decrease which constitutes the strongest decrease since 1998, according to the Minister of...
Poland : wages are soaring
According to the latest statistics, wages reached a record level last March : + 9.1%. If this news item satisfies employees and unions, employers and economists remain skeptical. (Ref. 070367)
Czech Republic : Skoda Auto has reached wage agreement with its unions
One day after a warning strike (see our article n°070349), Skoda Auto management and the carmaker's unions reached a wage agreement. Skoda Auto, originally a Czech car manufacturer, is a member of...
Great Britain: Royal Mail is closing 73 post offices, transferred to a bookstore-news stand chain
The Royal Mail public post office is going to close 70 main post offices and transfer them to the WH Smith chain, specialized in the sale of books and newspapers. The CWU, the communication...
Poland: the privatization of the state-owned firm will change their workers’ involvement rules
In accordance with a 2006 law, all Polish public companies have to be privatized by June 30, 2007. Privatization operations lead to changes in regulations concerning employees' representation at...
Spain: the law on subcontracting on building sites came into effect
The law on the supervision of subcontracting in the building sector, published in the official journal on October 19, 2006 (see our story n°061155) came into effect on April 19, 2007. It limits to...
Netherlands: managers’ pay is being debated
Chief executive officers' excessive incomes are at the heart of a debate within Parliament, and an association of small shareholders has just published the list of what it considers as the most...
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
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...
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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