Trade Union European Information Project http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/ Information about Europe for UK trade unionists Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT Diary: conferences and courses Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT Conferences.html ConferenceDiary 11-13 April - The contribution of occupational health psychology to individual, organisational and public health. 12 April - The Future for Regional Development - what next after RDAs? 18-21 April - Training trainers for project work. 28 April - Workers' Memorial Day and TUC Day of Action to defend health and safety. Women’s work study day concludes: ‘Being invisible hurts’ Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page10dream.html GenderHS Nigel Rees is the European Research Officer and editor of the European Review based at the Trade Union Studies Centre at South Thames College, London. He recently attended a study day on ‘Gender inequalities and occupational diseases’ which he reports on below EU citizens know about ageing problem but don’t want later retirement Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page9dream.html#ActiveAge ActiveAge The latest release in the Eurobarometer series of opinion surveys examines the subject of active ageing especially concerning work and retirement. EU citizens know about ageing problem but don’t want later retirement Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page9dream.html#ActiveAge ActiveAge The latest release in the Eurobarometer series of opinion surveys examines the subject of active ageing especially concerning work and retirement. Survey confirms women’s work is never done Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page9dream.html WomenWorkHours A recent publication by Eurofound, the EU agency that collects employment-related statistics, examines working time but ranges beyond the workplace to include commuting time and unpaid labour in the home. EU & Member States should bargain together for best cloud computing price says Commissioner Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page8dream.html#CloudComp CloudComputing THE EU DIGITAL AGENDA COMMISSIONER Neelie Kroes has thrown her weight behind the adoption of cloud computing by the public sector in the European Union. ACTA referred to European Court of Justice as two court cases go protesters’ way Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page8dream.html ACTA THE ANTI-COUNTERFEITING TRADE AGREEMENT (ACTA) is an international trade treaty which aims to standardise copyright protection measures across the World in order to clamp down on both fake physical goods and the online use of copyrighted material. WEEE directive beefed up as EU attacks e-waste Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page7dream.html#Monsanto WEEEDir THE WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC Equipment directive was originally passed by the EU in 2003 (see issue 19). It attempted to lay down rules for recycling and export of items such as televisions, mobile ’phones and computers by making manufacturers responsible for what they produce. French court finds Monsanto guilty of poisoning farmer Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page7dream.html#Monsanto MonsantoPoisoning A FRENCH FARMER WHO SUFFERED MEMORY LOSS, stammering and headaches after inhaling the pesticide Lasso has won his claim against its manufacturer, US multinational company Monsanto. Unions question safety of larger vessels as they take care of shipwrecked liner’s crew members Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page7dream.html ItayShipwreck FOLLOWING THE DISASTROUS SINKING OF THE COSTA CONCORDIA cruise ship off the coast of Italy, maritime unions have acted to help the surviving crew members while raising questions about the safety of the increasingly large ships being laid down in shipyards across the World. Recent rulings from the European Courts Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er57-page6dream.html#Cases57 ECourtCases57 No limit on successive fixed term contracts if employer can justify them; Annual leave accrual when on sick leave must be limited ‘Historic’ verdict sends asbestos bosses to jail for sixteen years Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page6dream.html EUYouthUnemp We reported in issue 47 on the trial of two former owners of asbestos manufacturer Eternit in Italy. Over 3,000 deaths were attributed to dust from their factories. Despite the large number of parties to the prosecution, and its consequently complicated nature, Stephan Schmidheiny and Jean-Louis de Cartier were recently convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to jail terms of 16 years each. Young people cry ‘Enough is enough!’ as EU begins push against unemployment Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page5dream.html EUYouthUnemp As jobs have haemorrhaged from European economies under pressure from the financial crisis young people have been disproportionately affected. We look at the European Commission’s new ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ as well as the different approaches of Member States to re-engage with their younger citizens. Migrant worker win for Slovenian unions Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page4dream.html#SloveniaMigrants SloveniaMigrants UNSTINTING SUPPORT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS from Bosnia-Herzegovina has reaped rewards for the ZSSS trade union federation in Slovenia. Maltese pensions ‘unsustainable’ but no agreement on way forward Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page4dream.html#SloveniaMigrants MaltaPensions THE SMALL ISLAND COUNTRY OF MALTA seems to be the EU Member State most affected so far by the much-heralded ‘demographic time-bomb’ as it already has one person aged over 64 for every four between 15 and 64. Professional qualifications to go pan-EU, again Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page4dream.html EUProfQualis MOBILITY OF LABOUR IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING principles of the European Union but professionals in occupations that entail long training periods and state regulation of qualifications Croatians still keen to join the EU club Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page3dream.html#CroatiaJoin CroatiaJoinEU DESPITE THE RECENT TURMOIL IN THE EURO-AREA financial markets and consequent damage to the European Union’s reputation caused by the cuts imposed as a solution (see page 2), there are still countries queuing up to join. Civil service social partners want to close gender pay gap Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page3dream.html CivServGenderPay EU-LEVEL TRADE UNIONS AND MANAGEMENT in the central public administration sector have called on the European Commission to amend equal pay legislation Social dialogue in France produces copious results Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page3dream.html FranceSocDialogue BEGINNING LAST YEAR TALKS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS and trade unions in France have resulted in the signing of eight national agreements. Deal means Alstom China move will not cost jobs Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page2dream.html#AustriaStrike AlstomChina ALSTOM, A FRENCH ENGINEERING COMPANY HAS SIGNED a deal with the European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) to protect European jobs whilst it sets up a joint venture with Chinese firm Shanghai Electric Bargaining Round-up Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page2dream.html#AustriaStrike BargainingRound-up AUSTRIAN UNIONS TOOK THE UNUSUAL STEP OF withdrawing their labour recently. TRADE UNIONS IN MALTA GAINED A NEW RECRUIT when the government confirmed that the Malta Police Association could become one of their number. A LONG-RUNNING CAMPAIGN IN BELGIUM known as ‘white rage’ has resulted in an extensive agreement for employees of non-profit organisations. Second EU financial pact makes things even worse say unions Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:37:38 GMT er58-page2dream.html EUFinPact WE REPORTED OVER A YEAR AGO ON THE EU’S ‘ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE’ rules which clamped down on Member States’ budgets (see issue 53) as part of the ‘six-pack’ reinforcing the existing stability and growth pact. Diary: conferences and courses Mon, 15 Feb 2012 12:37:38 GMT index.html ConferenceDiary 5-6 March - Gender and Globalisation – This course is open to all trades unionists. It will examine the impact of globalisation on workers with an emphasis on women and the opportunities to develop links worldwide Education statistics show good progress in nursery take-up Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page9dream.html NurseryStats Among a welter of interesting figures about education released by Eurostat, the good news included a rise in the proportion of children attending pre-school classes from 85.6% in 2000 to 92.5% in 2009. Early figures confirm suicide/crash link Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page9dream.html#SuicideCrash SuicideFinCrash Medical researchers compiling statistics for both suicides and unemployment after the financial crash of 2008 believe that their prediction of a link, based on studies of previous economic downturns, has been borne out. Russia tops the European Internet chart for first time Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page8dream.html#RussiaWeb RussiaWeb FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE ARE MORE people using the Internet in Russia than in any other European country. EU countries urged to speed up digitisation as ‘Europeana’ fills up Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page8dream.html Europeana THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS URGING MEMBER STATES to speed up the rate at which they are digitising cultural material and they know where it should be stored. Most EU countries to miss Batteries Directive targets Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page7dream.html#DenmarkAirport BatteriesDirective THE EU BATTERIES DIRECTIVE WAS PASSED in 2006 with the aim both of reducing the amounts of toxic substances such as mercury and cadmium in their manufacture and recycling more batteries as a whole. Danish airport workers take Green workplace initiative Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page7dream.html#DenmarkAirport DenmarkAirport FOLLOWING OUR ARTICLE ON the trade union push for green workplaces (see last issue) workers at Copenhagen airport have started a campaign to reduce particle pollution at their workplace. Unions: new electro-magnetic field directive ‘not up to scratch’ Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page7dream.html EMF directive AN EU HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTIVE that has been unusually held up for revision has not satisfied trade union experts now that it has appeared in draft form. Recent rulings from the European Courts Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page6dream.html#Cases56 ECourtCases56 German pilots can stay on after 60; UK pilots win partial victory in holiday pay row Irish wage regulation saved but reform is in the offing Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page6dream.html IrelandWages Irish wage regulation saved but reform is in the offing Turkish economy booms but reforms still needed to overcome EU snub Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page5dream.html Turkey Turkish economy booms but reforms still needed to overcome EU snub Three Euro-union federations to merge Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page4dream.html#EuroPrison EuroUnionMerger THREE OF THE EUROPEAN TRADE UNION FEDERATIONS which represent members working in the manufacturing sector across Europe are to merge. Euro-prison ‘rhetoric’ should support staff say unions Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page4dream.html#EuroPrison EuroPrisonCode A COUNCIL OF EUROPE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRISON staff has been criticised by the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU). Teachers’ salaries ‘not attractive’ says Commission Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page4dream.html TeacherSalaries THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS CONFIRMED WHAT many teachers may feel: that salaries are too low or ‘not attractive’ in the words of a recent report. Stress agreement: involve unions for best results Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page3dream.html#StressDeal StressAgreement IN 2004 THE SOCIAL PARTNERS AT EUROPEAN LEVEL signed an agreement on the prevention of stress at work which, for only the second time, relied for its implementation on unions and employers Unions seek to influence new public procurement directive Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page3dream.html PubProcAgreement PUBLIC PROCUREMENT WAS ONE OF THE many areas of EU law that was negatively affected by the series of anti-union judgements in the European Court of Justice over recent years. Woman pilots more numerous in Germany as airlines try to avoid discrimination Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page2dream#GermanWomenPilots.html GermanWomenPilots Woman pilots more numerous in Germany as airlines try to avoid discrimination Robin Hood tax gains support despite UK objections as EU targets rating agencies Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page2dream.html Robin Hood tax POWERFUL ALLIES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE continuing campaign for a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT), often referred to as a ‘Robin Hood Tax’ Bargaining Round-up Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT er57-page2dream.html#BR57 BargainingRound-up THE BULGARIAN TOBACCO INDUSTRY HAS LONG been in the public sector. Even when it was turned into a holding company in 1993 after the fall of communism
<br /> BUS DRIVERS IN LUXEMBOURG CHOSE A NOVEL form of protest in a long-standing grievance about working conditions.
<br /> A NORWEGIAN TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVE HAS found herself at the centre of a global struggle between an employer and the International Transport Federation. Diary: conferences and courses Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:37:38 GMT Conferences.html ConferenceDiary 17-20 January - Impacts of the European crisis on working conditions and workers’ rights – experiences and strategies
31 January - Gender inequalities and occupational diseases
20-24 February - Occupational safety and health management in the construction sector
21 February - Pay Forum 2012: Building Intelligence and Negotiating Change
 EU population growth slows as both migration and births decline Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page9dream#EUPopnGrowth.html EUPopnGrowth The international financial crisis is showing its effects in the EU population figures. Although there were an extra 1.4 million people recorded in 2010, a rate of increase of 0.27%, rates of over 0.4% were regularly posted before 2008. International investment crashes with financial sector Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page9dream.html EUFDI Investment from other countries into the EU and from Member States into the wider world, both known as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), have suffered severe decline since the financial crash of 2008 Talking ‘holes in the wall’ to aid accessibility Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page8dream.html#ATMs ATMs A NEW PROJECT FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION is setting out to remedy the lack of facilities for disabled people and the elderly provided by public digital terminals (PDTs) in Europe. Online buyers increase but prefer to shop in their own country Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page8dream.html OnlineBuyers A RECENT REPORT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS HIGHLIGHTED the growth in online shopping across the EU. Between 2005 and 2010 the percentage of consumers in the EU who had purchased goods and services over the Internet doubled Swedish study urges paid exercise in work time Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page7dream.html#SwedenWorkFit WorkFitness Businesses that want to ensure the health and well-being of their staff should move from influencing their private lives in matters of diet and fitness to providing time during the working day for exercise. German ‘siesta’ catches on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page7dream.html GermanSiesta THE GERMAN TRADES UNION CONFEDERATION, the DGB, has called for companies to follow traditional southerrn European practice by introducing facilities for a short nap in the middle of the working day. Social partners get progress report on their ‘sharps’ directive Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page7dream.html SharpsDir THE PRACTICE OF TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS making framework agreements which then become EU directives received another boost last year when the EU adopted the ‘Framework Agreement on Prevention from Sharp Injuries Recent rulings from the European Courts Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page6dream.html#Cases55 ECourtCases55 Whistleblowers should not be sacked even if their court action fails; Greek temps gain the right to be made permanent Giant US Internet companies still in trouble with European courts Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page6dream.html InternetCases The seemingly unstoppable progress of the corporations enabling  individuals to search, buy and communicate with their friends on the Internet has sometimes faced oGMTacles in the European courts Across EU, surveys show up inferior position of women in the workplace Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page5dream.html WomenManagers The gender pay gap has been with us for a long time. Similarly the lack of women in the boardrooms and management of top companies is no longer hot news. Now a wealth of information from many EU countries has at least pointed to a better future Socialists boosted as woman leader triumphs in Denmark Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page4dream.html#AustriaUnions DenmarkElection ANGELA MERKEL”S LONELY VIGIL AS THE ONLY woman at the EU leaders’ table is to be ended with the election of Helle Thorning-Schmidt as the new prime minister of Denmark Cash-strapped Austrian unions slow decline Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page4dream.html#AustriaUnions AustriaUnionDecline LATEST FIGURES FOR TRADE UNION membership in Austria show that the long-term decline in numbers has slowed to a trickle. Some unions even increased their membership in 2010 while the overall decrease totalled 0.9%, Two victories in Turkey as unions gain recognition Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page4dream.html TurkeyUnionRecog TURKEY HAS WITNESSED SEVERAL STRUGGLES FOR TRADE UNION RECOGNITION recently but two long disputes have been brought to a successful conclusion in the last few weeks. The European Review has previously reported on the triumph of the TÜMTIS Maltese footballers join trade union after training pay cut Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page3dream.html#MaltaFootStrike MaltaFootballStrike A SERIES OF REVERSES FOR PROFESSIONAL footballers in Malta has prompted them to join the General Workers Union (GWU). Following a dispute over the salary cap in 2005 the players attempted to found their own association Green workplace networks spread across Europe Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page3dream.html GreenWorkplace THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE SEEN THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF THE TRADE UNION movement in environmental issues. The recognition that resource-hungry industries will not survive the impending scarcity of fossil fuels and Three new directives seek to equalise conditions for migrant workers Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page2dream.html#MigrantDirs MigrantDirectives THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IS SEEKING TO REGULARISE THE position of migrant workers throughout the EU by means of three new directives. Unions give latest euro-summit good advice but leaders’ response still unclear Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page2dream.html EUSummit AS THE ECONOMIC CRISIS CONTINUES UNABATED with the EU and the euro-zone currently at the eye of the storm EU leaders hold regular summits at which European trade unions try to inflluence policy. Bargaining Round-up Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT er56-page2dream.html#LisbonCouncil BargainingRound-up LISBON CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN MADE TO CHANGE its mind by the swift action of the STAL and STML trade unions.
<br /> THE VPÖD-SSP UNION HAS CONCLUDED A GENERAL DEAL for the cleaning sector in Switzerland following two high-profile strikes.
<br /> EASYJET IS A COMPANY USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CHEAP holidays but it seems they want cut-price workers as well. Diary: conferences and courses Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:37:38 GMT Conferences.html ConferenceDiary 11 October - ‘Nuts and Bolts" Conference : What’s in your health and safety toolkit?
17-18 
Nov -Joint ETUC-ETUI Training on EU funding for health and safety activities.
25 Nov - Health and Safety Reps Seminar.
30 Nov-
2 December - Improving trade union coordination of European Works Councils.
2 December - Introduction to Greening the Workplace Eurobarometer survey reveals negative image of chemicals Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page9dream.html#EUChemSurvey EUChemSurvey The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has commissioned a survey to investigate perceptions of chemical products among the EU population. Part of the Classification and Labelling regulations, the study also inquired into attitudes to safety instructions and the understanding of hazard symbols. As crash hits rich Member States poor ones catch up Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page9dream.html EURichList Latest statistics from Eurostat, the statistics arm of the European Commission, show that the poorest EU countries have made up some ground on the rich ones during the financial crash and its aftermath. .eu reaches fifth birthday Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page8dream.html#BelgiumGoogle .eubirthday FIVE YEARS AGO THE TOP-LEVEL domain name .eu, equivalent to .com or .uk. was launched by the European Registry of Internet Domain Names (EURid) agency, which was appointed by the European Commission to administrate the address Belgian anti-Google ruling angers consumer group Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page8dream.html#BelgiumGoogle BelgiumCourtGoogle GOOGLE, THE US-BASED INTERNET SEARCH COMPANY, has suffered a setback in a Belgian court which has thrown out its appeal against a previous decision that it must stop publishing headlines and extracts from newspapers in its Google News service. (ECHA). ECHA to publish company names Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page8dream.html#BelgiumGoogle ECHACompNames IT IS NOT UNKNOWN IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH AND SAFETY for commercial interests to run contrary to those of the general public and the battleground is often access to information. So it has proved at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). New ‘unofficial’ web site wants to ‘communicate Europe’ Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er55-page8dream.html CommEUWeb AFTER THE REJECTION OF THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION BY FRENCH AND DUTCH voters in in 2006, much thought was given by EU leaders on how to better communicate with European citizens. Inevitably hopes were invested in the growing popularity of the Internet and then, particularly, the new social media. ‘Pack Less’ campaign aims to reduce injury Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er55-page7dream.html#FranceAsthma PackLesCampaign Union confederations that cover the aviation sector are seeking to reduce the worrying level of manual handling injuries among staff, currently four times that of others in equivalent jobs. French study confirms TUC work asthma figure Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page7dream.html#FranceAsthma FranceAsthmaSurvey A MEETING OF LUNG ALLERGY SPECIALISTS IN PARIS has concluded that 15% of adult asthma cases in France are contracted at work. According to doctors from the regional teaching hospital at Lille, between 1,250 and 5,000 workers per year, would have remained healthy had they not been exposed to allergens. Health problems multiply at World leader in wind turbine manufacture Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page7dream.html DenmarkRotorFirm AN ARTICLE IN A DANISH NEWSPAPER HAS triggered an avalanche of health complaints from workers and former employees of a world leader in the making of equipment for the windpower industry. Recent rulings from the European Courts Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page6dream.html#Cases54 ECourtCases German pensions: civil partnership equals marriage
<br /> ThyssenKrupp in UK court after unprecedented jail term for Italian boss UK asbestos law must be changed says European Commission Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page6dream.html UKAsbestosLaw The European Commission routinely examines the implementation of European Directives in Member States and issues ‘reasoned opinions’ when it finds that an infringement has occurred. Acting on a complaint from the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) it has ruled that the UK has not fully implemented the Protection from Asbestos Directive. Spanish social partners sign first agreement since 2006 Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page5dream.html#SpainSocPact SpainSocPact AS EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE CUTS, RAISED THE retirement age and reformed labour legislation unions have responded with strikes and demonstrations and social dialogue has been in abeyance with no agreement possible. This is especially true of Spain Authorities claim ex-FIAT plant will bounce back with more jobs but unions sceptical Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page5dream.html FIATFactoryClosure THE ITALY-BASED MULTI-NATIONAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURER FIAT-Chrysler has announced its intention to close its factory at Termini Imerese in Sicily at the end of the year. However the national development agency, Invitalia, local and regional government and FIAT all agree that the entire work force can be re-employed Weekend football strike successful in Norway Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page4dream.html#NorwayFootballStrike NorwayFootballStrike IT SEEMS THAT FOOTBALL IS SUCH A profitable business that one weekend without matches is enough to bring employers to the negotiating table. That’s what happpened in Norway after the players’ union, NISO, withdrew their members’ labour. Soaring unemployment in Greece and Spain as austerity measures bite Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page4dream.html EUUnemp LATEST FIGURES FROM EUROSTAT, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION”S statistical arm, show that reeent cuts in spending, whether undertaken by national governments or imposed on them from outside, as in the case of Greece, Ireland and Portugal, are having a big negative impact on unemployment. Chinese backers save SAAB at last minute Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page3dream.html#SwedenChina SAABChina THE NEAR-BANKRUPTCY OF THE THREE giant American car manufacturers in 2009 left them anxious to offload their European subsidiaries such as SAAB in Sweden which was sold by General Motors to Spyker of the Netherlands. Survey shows female union membership increasing as cuts hit women but leadership still male Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page3dream.html UnionWomenLeaders EVERY YEAR THE EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION (ETUC) conducts its 8th. March survey. Named after the date of International Women’s Day it examines the progress made within trade unions in reducing the ‘gender representation gap’, that is increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions North/South divide deepens in Europe as unions reiterate demands to ease austerity Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page2dream.html NorthSouthAusterity A RECENTLY PUBLISHED REPORT FROM THE European Foundation for the Improvemeent of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) has underlined the divergent experiences of EU Member States as they strive to recover from the recent financial crash. Bargaining Round-up Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:37:38 GMT er55-page2dream.html#LuxIndex BargainingRound-up IN LUXEMBOURG PAY NEGOTIATIONS USUALLY follow a prescribed course of discussions between government, employers and unions
<br /> NORWEGIAN UNIONS RECORDED A VICTORY recently in public sector wage negotiations as they walked away with 4% and 4.3% increase
<br /> FEDEX WORKERS AT THE COMPANY’S PARIS air hub showed their dissatisfaction with a 1% pay offer made recently by management Diary: conferences and courses Tue, 28 June 2011 12:37:38 GMT Conferences.html ConferenceDiary 5-8 Jul - Project management for trade union officers.
4-9 September - Bullying and Harassment at Work.
11-15 September - 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at work.
13-16 September - Sustainable development, green jobs and quality jobs.
27-30 September - Trade Union renewal Euro-demonstration on 21st June in Luxembourg City Action and Information Day in Europe Tue, 14 June 2011 12:37:38 GMT http://www.etuc.org/a/8776 ETUCLuxDemo The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls for a Euro-demonstration on 21 June at 15:00 in Luxembourg City against austerity and the type of economic governance that the European Union wants to impose on workers across Europe. Eurostat eGovernment survey gives top marks to 6 Member States Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page9dream.html EUeGov The online availability of a basket of 20 basic public services, such as car registration, tax declaration or registration of a new company, across Europe reached 82% in 2010, suGMTantially higher than in 2009 when it stood at 69%. Faint signs of improvement in employment situation in Europe Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page9dream.html EUEmployment In the three months between Jul and September last year the numbers of both unemployed and employed people in the European Union were unchanged from the previous three months at just over 23 million and 221 million respectively Mobile builders get web help Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page8dream.html MobileBuildersWeb THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF BUILDING and Woodworkers  have constructed a new web site to help their members who find work in foreign countries. EU cookie law starts in May Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page8dream.html EUCookieLaw COOKIES ARE THE LITTLE PIECES OF SOFTWARE that arrive in your computer when you visit certain web sites, usually commercial ones, to tell the company concerned vital information such as when you logged on to their site and what you looked at. Dutch ‘smart work’ centres use the Internet to move your workplace Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page8dream.html SmartWorkCentres THE IDEA OF TELEWORK HAS BEEN AROUND FOR many years now, in fact unions and employers agreed an EU directive on it in 2002. ‘Harmful’ night work on the rise in France Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page7dream.html FranceNightWork Figures from the French ministry of labour suggest that there has been a large increase in the number of people working regular or occasional night shifts and confirm the deleterious effects on the health of these workers. First six chemicals make it on to REACH hit list Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page7dream.html REACHHitList THE FIRST GROUP OF CHEMICALS HAVE BEEN PLACED on the list to be phased out by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), now nearly three years old, under the REACH regulations. Dutch metalworkers turn to web for safety tips Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page7dream.html DutchMetalWeb A  PROJECT INVOLVING TRADE UNIONS, EMPLOYERS’ GROUPS and experts in the Netherlands has come up with an extensive web site offering health and safety help and information. Recent rulings from the European Courts Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page6dream.html Cases53 Insurance quotes cannot take gender into account
<br /> Place of work more important than company HQ Unions deplore EU ‘austerity pact’ as ministers go slow on finance tax Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page5dream.html AustPact As the sovereign debt crisis spreads to more and more Member States, the attempt by the Council of Ministers to guide their economies in a euro-pact has been criticised for its lack of a social dimension Italian unions pick first female leader as women climb the ladder in Norway due to quota Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page4dream.html#ItalyWomanLeader ItalyUnion INCLUDED IN THEIR PUSH FOR MORE WOMEN AT THE top of companies, trade unions have looked at female representation in their own hierarchies and often found it unsatisfactory (see issue 50). Privatisation blamed in Norway’s ‘Adecco scandal’ Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page4dream.html NorwayAdecco AN EVER-WIDENING INVESTIGATION IN NORWAY has revealed serious exploitation of temporary workers in care homes, slaughterhouses and hospitals. Turkish strikers win due to international support Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page3dream.html#TurkeyStrikeWin TurkeyStrike WORKERS AT THE TURKISH SUBSIDIARY OF a multi-national delivery firm who were dismissed for refusing to sign away their right to join a trade union (see issue 52) have got their jobs back. EU print sector partners agree restructuring deal Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page3dream.html#TurkeyStrikeWin PrintDeal UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE  PRINTING SECTOR FOUND little difficulty in agreeing that their industry faced a combination of factors that added up to a serious challenge to its future. German employers use temps and flexi-accounts to get over slump Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page3dream.html GermanFlexi DURING THE ECONOMIC CRASH, BEGINNING IN 2008, orders for the products of Germany’s dominant manufacturing industry reduced considerably. In previous slumps this would have resulted in a rise in unemployment Working Time Directive: unions, disappointed with Commission proposals, want to negotiate Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page2dream.html#WTD WTD ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING SAGAS in the EU book of legislative initiatives is the revision of the Working Time Directive Bargaining round-up Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page2dream.html BargainingRound-up THE CONTINUING EU-WIDE DEREGULATION OF postal services has had serious repercussions in the Netherlands
<br /> EVEN IN SWEDEN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY REGISTERING record increases in economic activity
<br /> LITHUANIAN EMPLOYERS AND TRADE UNIONS and the government are all keen to renew the country’s national agreement EP moves to regulate hedge funds further as it cracks down on risky transactions Tue, 2 May 2011 12:37:38 GMT er54-page2dream.html HedgeFundReg NOT CONTENT WITH PASSING STIFFER regulation on hedge funds in areas such as licensing and takeovers (see our last issue) Diary: conferences and courses Tue, 26 April 2011 12:37:38 GMT http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/Conferences.html ConferenceDiary 25 May - Health, Well-being and Safety in the Workplace: Raising the Bar Across Europe.
<br />1 June - European Biosafety Summit.<
/>;br />18 June - Supporting and building successful trades councils.
<br />5-8 Jul - Project management for trade union officers.
 European migrant workers course provides fascinating insights Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page10dream.html MigrantCourse The course was attended by 18 delegates from 10 countries. It focussed on the situation of migrant workers in the current recession. As the delegates reported, Guinea-pig Greeks fearful of tomorrow Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page9dream.html#GreecePig GreekSurvey Greece was the first of the countries using the euro currency to suffer the public sector cuts, weakening of labour rights and increased taxation demanded in return for an EU-IMF financial bailout Chemicals registrations flood in as deadline reached Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page9dream.html ECHARegs The deadline for chemicals companies to submit registration applications for the suGMTances that they use was reached on December 1st and the European Chemicals Agency has received over 20,000 dossiers. 'Right to be forgotten’ is EU Internet aim Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page8dream.html#EUNetDir EUNetPriv THE EU’S DATA PROTECTION DIRECTIVE DATES BACK TO 1995 when Facebook, twitter, even iTunes had not yet formed the smallest clouds on the cyber-horizon. Social media catch on with MEPs as rôle-playing game developed Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page8dream.html EPWeb WEB 2.0 SEEMS TO FINALLY BE CATCHING UP WITH Members of the European Parliament according to their staff. Hair and Beauty partners improve EU law Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page7dream.html#HairDir HairDeal Employers and trade unions meeting as EU social partners have come to an agreement  that goes further in protecting hairdressing and beauty workers than the Cosmetics Regulation passed by the EU Turkish mariners found in ‘appalling conditions’ on Merseyside ship Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page7dream.html#HairDir MerseyShip TURKISH, GEORGIAN AND AZERI mariners have been found putting up with dreadful conditions by an International Transport Federation (ITF) inspector in Birkenhead European survey: big concern of managers is stress Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page7dream.html IrelandMinWage MANAGERS ARE AS CONCERNED ABOUT STRESS AS THEY ARE ABOUT accidents at work according to the biggest workplace health and safety survey in Europe Minimum wage in Ireland under pressure on two fronts Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page6dream.html IrelandMinWage There are two kinds of minimum wage in Ireland:  a national rate set by the government and higher sectoral minimums in collective agreements registered by employers and trade unions Workers hope for better times in Hungary as it takes over EU presidency Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page5dream.html Hungary Hungary recently became the third former Eastern-bloc nation to take its six-month turn at the helm of the EU’s Councils of Ministers. ETUC names first woman General Secretary Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page4dream.html#MatLeave53 ETUCGS BERNADETTE SEGOL HAS BEEN APPOINTED as the successor to John Monks as General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Council of Ministers throws out maternity leave boost Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page4dream.html#MatLeave53 MatLeave THE RECENT VICTORY FOR working mothers in the European Parliament (see our last issue) rang hollow Unions/employers build on violence at work deal with training and information campaign Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page4dream.html ViolWork IN 2007 THE SOCIAL PARTNERS SIGNED AN EU FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT that dealt with violence Italians to vote to keep water public Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page3dream.html#ItalWater Italwater ITALIAN TRADE UNIONS HAVE SUPPORTED a movement which has used a law on referenda Finnish unions work hard to help migrant workers Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page3dream.html#FinnUnion FinnMigrant TRADE UNIONS IN FINLAND ARE playing a positive rôle in the debate on immigration which has started in preparation for elections in April France passes gender action laws as Germany debates the need for one Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page3dream.html GenderAct WORRIED BY THE PERSISTENCE OF THE GENDER PAY GAP and the failure by employers to enforce the equality provisions of recent EU legislation, law-makers in France have come up with Bargaining round-up Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page2dream.html#BR53 BargRep GERMAN METALWORKERS ARE REAPING THE REWARD; EASTERN EUROPE HAS BEEN THE SITE OF much investment from multi-national companies; ITALIAN EMPLOYERS AND TRADE UNIONS were in complete accord Good EU employment policies scuppered by bad economic ‘diktats’ say unions Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page2dream.html  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) seems to be fluctuating EU deal on hedge funds, but bank levy still contentious Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:37:38 GMT er53-page2dream.html#Hedge THE NEW STRUCTURE FOR FINANCIAL MARKET regulation in the EU, or some of it, will finally come into existence this year. EU broadband plan doesn’t please everyone Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page8dream.html IN ORDER TO MAKE CONCRETE PROGRESS ON ITS ‘DIGITAL AGENDA FOR EUROPE’, designed to encourage the roll-out of fast and super-fast internet broadband access Turkish workers denied compensation after ban on sandblasting jeans Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page7dream.html EVER LUSTED AFTER THAT ARTFULLY DISTRESSED pair of jeans? The technique which gives them that worn appearance also wears out the clothing workers. Union reps. urged to REACH out for chemical safety Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page7dream.html IT WAS A LONG AND COMPLICATED process to get the new EU chemical safety laws REACH on to the statute book and their implementation is unlikely to be any less involved. German unions split on ‘one plant – one agreement’ principle’ Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page6dream.html Germany’s long-standing arrangements for trade union representation and negotiating rights have been challenged by a Federal Labour Court ruling Social dialogue blooming under EU tutelage Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page5dream.html The Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) or ‘Lisbon Treaty’ obliges the European Commission to ‘facilitate dialogue between the social partners, respecting their autonomy’ Turkish union-bashers reap worldwide condemnation Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page4dream.html#TurkeyBash TURKISH EMPLOYEES OF MULTINATIONAL COURIER company UPS have faced physical violence, dismissal and even gunshots fired by a manager Swedes freeze out far-right activists Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page4dream.html#TurkeyBash FOLLOWING THE ENTRY INTO PARLIAMENT of the far-right Sweden Democrats party at the recent general election in that country Unions partly satisfied as Euro-parliament votes to extend paid maternity leave Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page4dream.html THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RECENTLY VOTED TO EXTEND PAID MATERNITY LEAVE to twenty weeks but left the level of payment during the last four weeks up to Member States. Swedish union hits the jackpot in art market Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page3dream.html#SwedenUnion SWEDISH TRADE UNION UNIONEN RECEIVED an unexpected boost to its funds recently. A sculpture that had been relegated from reception to the office canteen Two’s company in ground-breaking Euro-deal Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page3dream.html#SwedenUnion A NEW AGREEMENT CONCLUDED BY the European Metalworkers’ Federation is the first-ever to involve two different companies at European level. Better take-up of EU globalisation fund but money still too slow to arrive Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page2dream.html THE EUROPEAN GLOBALISATION ADJUSTMENT FUND (EGF) was set up in 2007 to help workers made redundant due to company restructuring EU bank reform slows down as Germany, UK, France raise objections Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page2dream.html#Lufthansa REFORM OF THE EU FINANCIAL SERVICES sector whose emergence, nearly two years after the demise of Lehman Brothers triggered the crash 100,000 on streets of Brussels as European workers say ‘No to austerity!’ Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page2dream.html ETUCdemo ON 29th SEPTEMBER OVER 100,000 TRADE UNIONISTS HEEDED THE CALL of the European Trade Union Confederation Bargaining round-up Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page2dream.html BargRep THE GROWING NUMBER OF HOME WORKERS IN BULGARIA<br>THE FORMER STATE-OWNED AIRLINE LUFTHANSA<br>REDUNDANCY WAS ON THE AGENDA IN TALKS between unions and Telecom Italia Recent rulings from the European Courts Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page6dream.html#Cases51 Anti-union judgements continue<br />Turkish case must lead to journalist protection Latest EU web commerce sweeps reveal electronic goods improvement with ticket sites next in line Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page8dream.html FOLLOWING ITS DRIVE TO IMPROVE AIRLINE INTERNET SITES the EU Consumer Affairs directorate has conducted ‘sweeps’ of web sites Construction trends show wide variation Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:39 GMT er52-page9dream.html Over the summer output in the construction sector showed wide variations both between months and among EU Member States. Tribute to Chris Jecchinis, trade union educator and war hero Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page10dream.html It is with great sadness that we report the death of Professor Christos (Chris) Jecchinis, Greek trade union educator Gender pay gap in Denmark remains wide Mon, 1 Nov 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page9dream.html A survey backed by trade unions in Denmark has shown that, even in a Nordic society supposedly more equal than most of the EU Slump in jobs slows down Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page9dream.html#JobsChart JobsSlump The number of people employed in the EU is still falling but less rapidly than recently. Eastern countries still lag west in rich list Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page9dream.html EastLag Figures recently released by Eurostat show that in 2009 most of the newer Member States, mainly in eastern Europe, are still at the bottom of the league when it comes to prosperity. ECHA debuts another IT helper Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page8dream.html#ECHAIT ECHAIT Following the launch of the ‘Navigator’ (see last issue), designed to find out if a suGMTance should be submitted by a company to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) 100,000 on streets of Brussels as European workers say ‘No to austerity! Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er52-page2dream.html DigAgenda ON 29th SEPTEMBER OVER 100,000 TRADE UNIONISTS HEEDED THE CALL of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and marched New books from ETUI Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page10dream.html Newbooks Two new publications from the European Trade Union Institute, which covers research, education and health and safety for the European Trade Union Confederation, have caught the eye of the European Review this quarter. Slump in jobs slows down Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page9dream.html#JobsChart JobsSlump The number of people employed in the EU is still falling but less rapidly than recently. Eastern countries still lag west in rich list Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page9dream.html EastLag Figures recently released by Eurostat show that in 2009 most of the newer Member States, mainly in eastern Europe, are still at the bottom of the league when it comes to prosperity. ECHA debuts another IT helper Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page8dream.html#ECHAIT ECHAIT Following the launch of the ‘Navigator’ (see last issue), designed to find out if a suGMTance should be submitted by a company to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Digital agenda plan aims to give EU internet lead Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page8dream.html DigAgenda As part of the Europe 2020 strategy (see page 4) seven ‘flagship’ initiatives are envisaged. First off the blocks is the plan for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Turkish expert says unions could stop mine disasters Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page7dream.html#IrelandHS TurkMine Responding to a third explosion in the last three months in Turkish coal mines, a union safety expert has pointed to the lack of unions in all three pits. Italian managers go to jail after asbestos deaths Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page7dream.html#IrelandHS AsbestosDeaths Following the deaths from lung cancer of 37 shipbuilding workers in Sicily, three former executives of the company have received prison sentences Tough new Irish safety policy reaps rewards Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page7dream.html#IrelandHS IrishSafetyPol A U-Turn in health and safety enforcement policy in the Republic of Ireland has shown up in much improved figures for accidents and fatalities in the country. Nano inventory needed as Danes warn of ‘new asbestos’ Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page7dream.html DaneNano A large public consultation by the European Commission on how to deal with nanotechnology New French union law does not break EU charter says court Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page6dream.html FrenchUnionLaw France’s highest court has ruled that a law passed in 2008 which reformed the rules on trade union representativeness and collective bargaining does not conflict Traditional union activities still the key to recruitment says report Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page5dream.html TradUnion Although trends vary from country to country, there is no doubt that trade unions in the European Union have generally lost members and experienced reduced density levels since the nineteen-seventies. Ireland: strikes boom as economy crashes Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page4dream.html#SpainDeal IrelandStrikes For Ireland 2009 was a year of public spending cuts, greatly increased unemployment and a nose-diving economy. Spanish harmony evaporates before ink dries on agreement Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page4dream.html#SpainDeal SpainStrike After the national framework agreement was recently signed by Spanish unions and employers Europe 2020? Let’s get through 2010 first, say unions! Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page4dream.html Euorpe2010 After a prolonged period of consultation, cogitation and co-ordination the European Commission has come up with a replacement for the Lisbon process European Day of Action to protest austerity cuts Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page3dream.html DayAction As successive European governments have responded with austerity measures to the attacks by financial markets on their borrowing EU financial regulation: details hold up deal Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page3dream.html EUFinReg Following the financial collapse in 2008 the ‘Washington Consensus’ of unregulated money markets was universally acknowledged to have reached the end of its usefulness Self-employed drivers’ work time: union victory again near Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page2dream.html#drivetime SelfDrive The labyrinthine decision-making process of the European Parliament and its committees appears to be almost ready to deliver Gender pay gap: EU’s Women’s Charter aims to spur further action Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:37:38 GMT er51-page2dream.html GenderPay Following the ‘Roadmap for Equality between Men and Women’ (see issue 37) which planned to attack gender discrimination in the workplace between 2006 and 2010 European Review reaches 50 not out Tue, 18 May 2010 12:37:38 GMT issue-50dream.html 1274182658 This is the fiftieth issue of the European Review, which has been informing British trade unionists<br><a href="http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/">http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/</a><br><a href="http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/">http://www.unionlearn.org.uk/</a> Businesses invest less even as profits recover Tue, 18 May 2010 12:36:51 GMT er50-page9dream.html 1274182611 After a catastrophic fall in profits, wages and taxes paid by private companies in the EU over the last two years, there are signs that profits For the first time men bear the brunt of unemployment as slump continues Tue, 18 May 2010 12:36:13 GMT er50-page9dream.html 1274182573 For the first time since statistics for the present 27 members of the EU have been collected the average unemployment rate for men is higher than that for women. REACH navigator makes it easy to register chemicals Tue, 18 May 2010 12:34:37 GMT er50-page8dream.html 1274182477 Amid some criticism of the small number of chemicals so far registered as candidates for suGMTitution by the European Chemicals Agency Women almost equal with men in usage of internet Tue, 18 May 2010 12:33:27 GMT er50-page8dream.html 1274182407 NEW FIGURES FROM THE EUS STATISTICAL arm Eurostat show that the percentage of women and men using the world wide web Maintenance focus for 2nd 2-year safety campaign Tue, 18 May 2010 12:32:39 GMT er50-page7dream.html 1274182359 Following last Novs successful conclusion to the first two-year campaign by the European Agency For Safety And Health At Work (OSHA) Another mine disaster in Turkey prompts further union criticism Tue, 18 May 2010 12:31:25 GMT er50-page7dream.html 1274182285 YET ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN A TURKISH COAL MINE has increased the pressure from unions More stress agreements in France as Télècom suicides go on Tue, 18 May 2010 12:29:44 GMT er50-page7dream.html 1274182184 FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF A NATIONAL STRESS agreement in France in 2008 unions and employers in both the public and private sectors Greek strike against ECJ pension ruling overtaken by events Tue, 18 May 2010 12:23:04 GMT er50-page6dream.html 1274181784 A seemingly equitable ruling by the European Court of Justice which sought to equalise the pension rights of women and men led to a strike call in Greece. Unions seek EU-wide coalition for new 'Robin Hood' bank tax Tue, 18 May 2010 12:20:54 GMT er50-page5dream.html 1274181654 There seems to be no disagreement on where the recent economic crash started: among the banks and other financial institutions. Social rôle of post set out in Belgian deal but strikes held Tue, 18 May 2010 12:19:52 GMT er50-page4dream.html#BelgiumPost 1274181592 THE DEADLINE FOR FULL COMPETITION in all postal services in the EU is January next year. UK migrant workers win compensation from racist farmer Tue, 18 May 2010 12:18:10 GMT er50-page4dream.html#BelgiumPost 1274181490 FURTHER DISTURBING EVIDENCE THAT some migrant workers in the UK have been treated appallingly Social partners in Spain set a course for recovery Tue, 18 May 2010 12:11:02 GMT er50-page4dream.html 1274181062 AFTER A FAILURE TO REACH A DEAL under the extraordinary circumstances of 2009 Spanish unions and employers Women for top jobs needed in Germany and the unions Tue, 18 May 2010 11:49:43 GMT er50-page2dream.html#GermanyWomen 1274179783 GERMANY HAS JOINED THE NETHERLANDS in seeking urgent action to <br>increase the number of women executives Bargaining round-up Tue, 18 May 2010 11:48:54 GMT er50-page2dream.html#PortNurses 1274179734 AS PORTUGUESE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS<br>INBEV, THE LARGEST BREWING COMPANY IN THE WORLD<br>ITALIAN UNIONS, CONCERNED THAT WORKERS Posted Workers directive: ETUC spells out demands as EU Presidency moves to action Tue, 18 May 2010 11:44:49 GMT er50-page2dream.html 1274179489 HIGH ON THE SHOPPING LIST OF REFORMS which European trade unions want to see tackled Working Time: new talks on directive revision Tue, 18 May 2010 11:35:09 GMT er50-page3.html 1274178909 AFTER NEARLY SIX YEARS OF NEGOTIATION the proposed revision of the EUs Working Time Directive was finally declared dead in April last year. Employer mergers prompt new thinking in Danish unions as tough bargaining round expected Tue, 18 May 2010 11:32:44 GMT er50-page3.html#DenmarkTU 1274178764 DENMARK IS KNOWN IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS both for its adherence to the Scandinavian model of national negotiation between strong employer and trade union federations Book charts move to individual rights in EU er49-page10dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:29:52 +0000 1274178763 State aid balloons due to crisis er49-page9dream.html#Balloons Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:29:10 +0000 state-aid-balloons-due-to-crisis Flexi-time on the rise across Europe as working hours show great variation http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page9dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:28:13 +0000 flexitime-on-the-rise-across-europe-as-working-ho ETUC info caught in the social net http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page8dream.html#AZLangs Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:27:15 +0000 etuc-info-caught-in-the-social-net Non A-Z languages reach top level of net http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page8dream.html#AZLangs Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:26:55 +0000 non-az-languages-reach-top-level-of-net Facebook posts lead to sack for Swedish workers http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page8dream.html#SwedenFacebook Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:25:37 +0000 new-eyouguide-sets-out-your-digital-rights-1 New eYouGuide sets out your ‘digital rights http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page8dream.html#SwedenFacebook Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:24:45 +0000 new-eyouguide-sets-out-your-digital-rights ETUC safety body opens up mag to non-specialists http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page7dream.html#TurkeyMine Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:23:44 +0000 etuc-safety-body-opens-up-mag-to-nonspecialists Mine disaster adds to poor Turkish safety record http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page7dream.html#TurkeyMine Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:23:04 +0000 mine-disaster-adds-to-poor-turkish-safety-record World’s biggest workplace safety campaign ends in summit http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page7dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:22:22 +0000 worlds-biggest-workplace-safety-campaign-ends-in Poland to tighten union recognition rules in divided workplaces http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page6dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:21:43 +0000 poland-to-tighten-union-recognition-rules-in-divid European unions join mobilisation against poverty and social exclusion http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page5dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:20:49 +0000 european-unions-join-mobilisation-against-poverty US printer signs ground-breaking EWC deal http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page4dream.html#DonnelleyEWC Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:19:54 +0000 us-printer-signs-groundbreaking-ewc-deal Spanish youth at bottom of pile as slump bite http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page4dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:18:39 +0000 spanish-youth-at-bottom-of-pile-as-slump-bite Pensioners fight back in Latvia as cuts declared illegal http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page3dream.html#LatviaPensions Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:17:54 +0000 pensioners-fight-back-in-latvia-as-cuts-declared-i Irish National Pay Agreement officially dead http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page3dream.html#IrelandPay Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:16:51 +0000 irish-national-pay-agreement-officially-dead More women wanted in top jobs in the Netherlands http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page3dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:15:22 +0000 more-women-wanted-in-top-jobs-in-the-netherlands EU staff strike as governments cut pay rise http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page2dream.html#EUStrike Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:13:56 +0000 eu-staff-strike-as-governments-cut-pay-rise GM announces first Opel closure as Volvo, Saab find buyers http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er49-page2dream.html Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:11:25 +0000 gm-announces-first-opel-closure-as-volvo-saab-fin Stats & facts Unemployment at record high as all EU Member States post rise<br /> EU workers say health & safety has improved but fearful of next 5 years http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page9dream.html EE6231AB-EFCE-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-000000504B68AB17-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:26:34 +0000 Sites of Interest EU bookshop leads the way as Commission seeks deal to speed book digitisation<br /> Fusty EU institutions join social networking web http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page8dream.html BFA17328-EFCE-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004FAF94B38D-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:24:50 +0000 Health & Safety Orange backs down on restructuring after spate of suicides<br /> Single vote reverses driver hours win<br /> EU to review nano laws as cases multiply http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page7dream.html 84DABCFD-EFCE-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004EEBADD630-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:23:32 +0000 Recent rulings from the European Court of Justice Reclaim leave if you’re sick on holiday<br /> Chemical companies lose on monomers http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page6dream.html#Cases47 3D0A4CC0-EFCE-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004DFC524A6D-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:21:53 +0000 New law for Swedish unions after Laval case FOLLOWING THE JUDGMENT OF THE European Court of Justice there was concern that the 'Nordic' system of industrial relations, usually praised by unions, would be threatened. http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page6dream.html 11E73569-EFCE-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004D6C8B89E9-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:19:53 +0000 New priorities needed, says Barroso, as Lisbon process comes to an end IN THE YEAR 2000 THE EUROPEAN UNION consisted of fifteen Western European states and the USA was experiencing the short-lived but ballooning dot-com boom which was spilling over into economic optimism and job creation in Europe. http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page5dream.html E497924D-EFCD-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004CD585D0EE-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:18:41 +0000 EU fund offers help to sacked Irish workers. NEARLY THREE THOUSAND WORKERS made redundant by American computer company Dell in Ireland are to receive funding from the EU http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page4dream.html#FinlandTemps C5780916-EFCD-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004C6DC9EC3F-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:17:24 +0000 Finnish unions pioneer holiday bank for temps. TEMPORARY AND FIXED TERM CONTRACT workers in Finland could be in for longer holidays if an idea from the federation http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page4dream.html#FinlandTemps 7A233D50-EFCD-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004B72B57991-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:16:32 +0000 Council of Ministers sign new parental leave directive, disability convention. THE MEETING OF THE EMPLOYMENT MINISTERS from EU Member States in December proved fertile in two areas of employment and social legislation. http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page4dream.html 24AA1954-EFCD-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004A55D36170-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:14:26 +0000 Ships ‘dumped’ around Europe as owners go bust. THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT FEDERATION (ITF) has reported growing numbers of ships left in port by owners who run out of money and stop paying the crew or providing food and water. http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page3dream.html FC1A955D-EFCC-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-00000049CEA300A8-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:11:58 +0000 Pilots protest on flying hours as EU considers report. IN OCTOBER THE EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS' FEDERATION (ETF) and the European Cockpit Association (ECA) held protests in Brussels http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page3dream.html DB8021D6-EFCC-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-0000004961F83039-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:10:54 +0000 Unions give short-time working a helping hand as EU governments fight unemployment. AS THE FINANCIAL CRISIS spread to the real economy unemployment began a relentless increase across Europe. However some countries have put ingenious programmes into place http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page3dream.html 287DD2E2-EFCC-11DE-AFC1-0014512F6546-311-000000470D54925C-FFA Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:07:28 +0000 Bargaining round-up ROMANIAN UNIONS HAVE FORMED a new alliance to fight proposals to re-organise the public sector.<br /> THE POLISH STATE AIRLINE LOT has breached national law and ILO conventions.<br /> FINNISH TECHNOLOGY UNIONS HAVE settled for a modest 0.5% pay increase http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page2dream.html#RomaniaGenStrike 06B63BD8-EF07-11DE-9289-0014512F6546-367-00000054970D66E1-FFA Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:39:43 +0000 GM takes Opel off the table to throw rescue plans into confusion AFTER A YEAR OF FEVERISH NEGOTIATION, speculation and jockeying for position the giant US-based motor vehicle manufacturer General Motors has announced http://www.tueip.dircon.co.uk/er48-page2dream.html 807006E8-EF05-11DE-9289-0014512F6546-367-0000004F824384BF-FFA Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:22:57 +0000