Our services evolve according to your needs. E-europnews becomes Planet Labor to always accommodate you best.

Latest news

14/05/2008 Great Britain: Unite calls for more union rights for health and safety representatives

With more and more deadly industrial accidents, the largest union in the private sector, Unite, calls for more responsibilities for union representatives in charge of health and safety. (Ref. 080382)

13/05/2008 Finland: the government is thinking about a bill allowing employers to check their employees' emails

The government sparked off a vivid debate with a draft amendment for the law on the protection of electronic data, which would allow employers to check the addresses of the emails received by and sent to their employees, to see the type of files attached to the message, without having access to the content. (Ref. 080381)

13/05/2008 NEX: establishment of international union coordination

Unions from the British group of carriage of passengers National Express Group (NEX, 43.000 employees), established a coordination network during a meeting organized by the International Transport Federation (ITF) in London on may 8 and 9. (Ref. 080380)

13/05/2008 EU: consolidated versions of EU treaties

The consolidated version of the treaty on European union and the treaty on the functioning of the European union have been published in the OJEU on may 9, 2008, for Europe Day. These treaties include the amendments brought by the Treaty of Lisbon. (Ref. 080378)

13/05/2008 Italy: unions agreed on the guidelines for the reform of the industrial relations system

The managements of the trade union confederations Cgil, Cisl and Uil approved, on may 12, the guidelines for the reform of the industrial relations system : reaffirmation of the role of national collective agreements, better articulation between the two negotiation levels, improvement of union democracy; these are the tracks of the text, which still needs to be consulted by the employees before being negotiated with the Confindustria at the beginning of June. (Ref. 080377)

13/05/2008 Corporate practices: seniors' employment in the Swedish company Scania

2007 was a record year in terms of sales for the group Scania, one of the jewels of the Swedish industry (84.5 million Swedish crowns, i.e. almost 9 million euro in sales). After Neste Oil (see our article No. 080252), Alboy (see our article No. 080314) and Audi (see our article No. 080351), this fourth article dedicated to corporate practices regarding important HR issues mentions the example of Scania, which results in terms of seniors' employment come less from a specific employment policy than from a complete review and the corporate culture. (Ref. 080379)

13/05/2008 Great Britain: unions take on the small screen

Who really knows what the million of British union members do? To be able to stop asking that question, Unite and the cable television channel Red TV will begin to broadcast a weekly program for and about trade unions. (Ref. 080376)

13/05/2008 Mexico: the reform of labor law will limit union freedom

The reform of the Federal Labor Law plans increased control of public powers over unions through a census of the members and limits to the conclusion of collective agreements. A system of "black lists" can also be introduced to identify "uncooperative" workers. In addition, the reform includes the "right to dignified labor" and increased control over subcontracting. (Ref. 080375)

12/05/2008 Spain: the UGT union requires measures to revive the automobile market

Worried about the decrease in the number of new license plates during the first trimester of 2008, the MCA-UGT, the UGT's metal and construction federation, requests the establishment of a series of measures to feed consumers' trust, support the Spanish market and try to ensure that the economic slowdown won't damage the automobile industry too much. It notably proposes the renewal of the plan to support the renewal of the car fleet and the opening of opportunities to access bank credits for potential buyers. (Ref. 080374)

12/05/2008 Luxembourg: adoption of the law introducing the single status

The historical difference between blue- and white-collar workers will disappear on January 1, 2009, according to the law on the single status permanently adopted by the Lower House on April 29, 2008. This text, which extends an agreement concluded by the social partners, will have important consequences on labor law, social protection and administrative staff management. Mr. Guy Castegnaro detailed the bill in one of our previous articles (see our article No. 080130). (Ref. 080373)

12/05/2008 Denmark: twice as many pleural cancers in one year

According to recent figures from the National Board of Industrial Injuries (Arbejdsskadestyrelsen), the number of registered pleural cancers has doubled since the law on the protection of occupational diseases has been amended last summer. (Ref. 080371)

12/05/2008 EU: the European Parliament urges the Commission to revise the EWC Directive

Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner in charge of Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, presented, on May 7, 2008, the European Commission's position following the refusal of the European Trade Union Confederation to bargain for the revision of the EWC Directive (see our article No. 080292). He confirmed his will to carry the project through during the office of the current Parliament, which MEPs insistently required. (Ref. 080370)

12/05/2008 Finland: Volvo to close plant in Tampere and transfer production to Poland

Volvo is going to give notice to 213 workers in Tampere, Finland. The Swedish car manufacturer is shutting its bus construction plant and transferring production to Poland. In addition to this plant which will close at the end of August, 24 employees from another site in Lieto, near Turku, are going to loose their job, because Volvo is also restructuring there, keeping 250 employees only. (Ref. 080372)

07/05/2008 News suspended until May 12, 2008

We are suspending our news wire until May 12th. As a consequence, you will not receive our information in your mailbox during this period. Of course, the web site remains open during this period.

07/05/2008 EU: the European Commission is preparing a "social package" for June 25

The college of Commissioners decided, during a seminar on April 29, 2008, dedicated to the preparation of the European social agenda, to present with this programmatic document a "social package" containing several initiatives involving the Commissioners in charge of social issues. During a conference dedicated to the Social Agenda, the president of the Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and the Commissioner in charge of Employment and Social Affairs, Vladimir Spidla, gave a few clarifications. (Ref. 080369)

07/05/2008 Great Britain: the temporary agency workers bill is moving on

Initiated by Andrew Miller, MP (see our dispatch No. 080159), the bill on equal treatment between permanent and temporary workers is going to pass through the Parliamentary Committee in the next few weeks. Engineers and IT technicians are still excluded from the field of application provided for in the bill. (Ref. 080368)

07/05/2008 General Motors Europe: two European framework agreements for production in Europe and against outsourcing

General Motors' European Works Council (European Employee Forum - EEF) signed, with the President of General Motors Europe, a framework agreement concerning the production of the next generation Astra and Zafira, and two models of a new SUV to be produced in Antwerp, Belgium. The company gave in to the EEF's most important demands: no plant closures and no enforced redundancies. In addition, they signed a framework agreement on information and consultation in the case of outsourcing. (Ref. 080367)

07/05/2008 Luxembourg: towards a reform of the industrial accident-occupational disease insurance

The Government Council gave an agreement in principle, on May 2, 2008, for the bill reforming the accident insurance which supports industrial accidents and occupational diseases. "Given the scope and the complexity of the reform, it will only come into effect on January 1, 2010," the government said "and the new compensation modalities will only apply for accidents and occupational diseases which happen or are declared after that date". (Ref. 080366)

06/05/2008 Poland: the government's action plan in favor of seniors' employment

The government launched a consultation with the social partners on its program entitled "Inter-generation solidarity – action plan to increase the professional activity of people over 50." This plan, aimed at facing the demographic challenge, contains a series of draft reforms to bring people over 50 back to work and to maintain seniors active. (Ref. 080365)

06/05/2008 Luxembourg: the law transposing the Directive on the information and consultation of workers was adopted

The law on the information and consultation of workers was permanently voted on April 29, 2008 by the House of Representatives. It transposes into national law Directive 2002/14 of March 11, 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees. (Ref. 080364)

06/05/2008 Equator: subcontracting and part-time work outlawed

The Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly adopted, on April 30, 2008, a series of drastic measures to fight staff exploitation and job precariousness. The reform of labor law outlaws agency workers during the recruitment process, the outsourcing of professional performances, as well as part-time work paid by the hour. (Ref. 080363)

06/05/2008 Germany: Deutsche Post AG and Ver.di end their conflict

After weeks of conflict punctuated with warning strikes (see our dispatch No. 80326), the management of the Deutsche Post AG and the services union Ver.di signed in extremis, on April 30, 2008 in Cologne, a tariff agreement. That same morning, 93.1% of the company's staff said they were ready, after three days of consultation, to start an unlimited strike on May 2 if the negotiations failed. (Ref. 080362)

05/05/2008 EU: the Commission adopts the guidelines concerning State aid for railway undertakings

The European Commission adopted, on April 30, 2008, the Guidelines on State Aid for railway undertakings. These guidelines clarify the rules applicable to State Aid granted to railway undertakings until January 1, 2010, follow a public consultation (see our dispatch No.080010). A chapter of this document is dedicated to restructurings in the freight activity. (Ref. 080362)

05/05/2008 Bouygues: creation of a new EWC

After the dispute which led to canceling the anticipation agreement of the European dialogue body of the French group Bouygues, the management and the special negotiating body adopted, on February 19, 2008, a new agreement concerning the EWC. (Ref. 080360)

05/05/2008 Germany: clarifications on the "demographic fund" introduced in the chemistry sector at company-level

This fund, managed by the company, planned in the agreement signed by the chemistry social partners (see our dispatch No. 080311), aims at setting up an internal fund dedicated to the tools, measures and plans, both existing and to come, allowing the sector's companies to prepare for demographic ageing, for retirement age going from 65 up to 67, and for companies' need of skilled workers. This dispatch details the way this fund operates. (Ref. 080359)

05/05/2008 Belgium: the government announced a plan in favor of health and safety at work

Joelle Miquet, Minister for Employment, presented, on April 28, 2008, on the occasion of the world day for health and safety at work, a five-year program to improve the health, safety and well-being of the people at work, which will be "a high priority" during her mandate. The plan pays special attention to psychosocial risks. (Ref. 080358)

05/05/2008 Unicredit : the EWC sets up two commissions on training and equal opportunities

The management of the Italian bank Unicredit (140,000 employees) and its European works coucnil signed on April 8, 2008 an agreement in application of a constitutive agreement of January 26, 2007 (see article n° 070160) on the creation of two joint commissions assigned to training and equality of opportunity. (Ref. 080357)

02/05/2008 Portugal : employers' contribution amendment to fight job insecurity

In order to foment stable employment, the government proposed to raise employer(s contribution for short term workers and to oblige undertaking to support a part of the social contribution paid by independent workers. (Ref. 080356)

02/05/2008 Great Britain : recruiters do not use very much 2.0 web technology

According to a survey carried out by the Cranfield School of Management, recruiters are not taking advantage of web 2.0 technology to attract candidates. (Ref. 080355)

02/05/2008 Brazil : national campaign for the reduction of working time

The unions are mobilized to press lawmakers to adopt a reduction of working time. Starting in the metal sector, the claim has spread to other categories of workers : the central issue of the May Day celebration was the reduction of the workweek from 44 to 40 hours without a drop in wages. (Ref. 080354)

30/04/2008 Crédit Agricole : interview with Pascal Fesquet (CFDT), spokesman of the special negotiations body

The Crédit Agricole management and the ad hoc negotiating group signed on January 30, 2008 an agreement on the creation of a European Works Committee (EWC) (see article n°080090) scheduled to hold its first meeting in June. After the Crédit Agricole management (see article n°080329), Pascal Fresquet (CFDT), secretary of the French group and SNB spokesman, outlined to Planet Labor, the terms of the negotiation. (Ref. 080352)

30/04/2008 Corporate Practices : R8 "Silver Line" project and "Demographic concept" at Audi

In 2006, 54.44% of Audi's staff was older than 39 and 16.98% over 50. In 2012, 1/3 of employees in the production division will be older than 50. At the same time, retirement age was brought up to 67. In this context, the company is already getting ready to work with older employees. In its "Silver Line" project, the car manufacturer is experimenting, in a flow line, working conditions to enable these seniors to keep working with a high level of productivity. (Ref. 080351)

30/04/2008 EU : creation of a legal assistance fund for EWCs

The executive committee of the European Federation of Public Services Union (EPSU) adopted, on April 22, 2008, the rules to appeal to a legal assistance fund created for EWCs. It will helps the councils claim their rights if information and consultation rights are not respected. (Ref. 080350)

30/04/2008 Italy : the women of the Fiom relaunch the « female issue » in the metal sector

On April 17 and 18, the female members of the Fiom convened at a national seminar at Riccione with the program featuring the analysis of the working conditions of women in the metal sector, their representation and their relations with the union. The goal was to relaunch the action of women in the union and in the workplace. (Ref. 080349)

29/04/2008 EU: first joint statement of the steel industry's social partners

The European steel industry's employers (Eurofer) and the European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF) adopted a joint declaration as part of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee on Steel, so that European Institutions amend the draft regulation aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in 2020 compared to 1990. These amendments are necessary to safeguard the European steel industry and its 370.000 jobs. (Ref. 080348)

29/04/2008 Vinci: evaluation of the diversity audit carried out in six EU countries

The French group Vinci, world leader in construction, had the social rating company Vigeo audit its policy of diversity and equal opportunities (see our article No. 070353). An internal document gives the results of the audit and what rectifying actions will be developed to respect the group's commitments in this area. (Ref. 080347)

29/04/2008 Belgium: amendments to the social balance sheet

Two royal decrees of February 10, 2008, amend the development of the social report which must be handed out by companies who have to return their annual accounts. One of the decrees allows the e-transmission of data concerning employment measures and specifies how they have to be transmitted to staff representatives. These decrees will come into effect on December 1, 2008. (Ref. 080346)

29/04/2008 France: foreign service bonuses can be held for workers from other countries

International companies located in France sometimes provide for specific wage conditions of advantages, such as an expatriation bonus, for employees from the parent company or, in more drastic cases, for people who are not French. In a decision of April 17, 2008, the French Supreme Court confirmed that this tool for human resources management based on the employees' nationality can, if certain requirements are met, be totally legal. (Ref. 080347)

29/04/2008 Volkswagen: union representatives want to strengthen international cooperation

This is a first. From April 28 to May 1, almost 120 union representatives from all the sites of the German car manufacturer in the world, are going to take part in an "international union conference of employees of the Volkswagen group", in Wolfsburg, at VW's headquarters. The goal is to come up with a joint strategy to face the internationalization of the group and set up international union networks. (Ref. 080345)

28/04/2008 Spain: employers accept the minimum wage increase if postponed to 2010

The leader of the employers' confederation CEOE accepted the principle of the gradual increase of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI) promised by José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, but doesn't want it to start now because of the uncertain economic situation in the country. (Ref. 080343)

28/04/2008 Great Britain: more and more suits concerning asbestos at work

Asbestos is the first cause of occupational deaths. Experts foretell an increase in the number of suits brought by sick employees. (Ref. 080342)

28/04/2008 Sweden: LO union at loggerheads with the government

The LO union, contrary to its habit of backing the Social Democratic Party, was scarcely heard in the election campaign which brought to power a centre-right coalition in September 2006. The union is today even critical of the tax deduction policy and the government unemployment insurance policy, which augurs a period of contestation and conflict in this consensus-orientated country. (Ref. 080341)

28/04/2008 Germany: the IG-Metall union signs tariff agreements for BMW's temp workers

The Bavarian section of the IG-Metall announced on April 21, 2008 that it signed with 16 temp agencies wage agreements granting temporary workers employed by BMW the wage levels negotiated in the branch. According to the IG-Metall, these agreements should lead to wage increases of up to 56% for the 3.000-4.000 temp workers at BMW. (Ref. 080340)

28/04/2008 Poland: debate around the reform of the Labor Code

Whereas the government is about to consult the social partners about the reform of the Labor Code (see our article No. 080178), its propositions are confronted to unions' opposition. This arm-wrestling game between unions and the government are not inconsequential on social dialogue. (Ref. 080339)

28/04/2008 EU: CJEC judges a national regulation with respect to the objectives of promotion of part-time work pursued by Community Law

In a decision of April 24, the Court of Justice of the European Communities condemned an Italian regulation which imposes on the employer the obligation to send a copy of a part-time employment contract to the administration within 30 days of signature of that contract, on penalty of a fine. The Court says this regulation is contrary to the objectives of Directive 97/81 which aims at promoting part-time work to improve equal treatment and job creation as well. (Ref. 080338)

25/04/2008 Italy: the new boss of bosses presents her program

Immediate reform of the conventional system, tax exemption for extra hours and variable premiums, amendment of the Testo Unico (see our article No. 080334), radical changes in industrial relations and in the employers' association : these are the priorities of Emma Marcegaglia, new leader of the Confindustria, presented on April 23 in front of the organization's executive board. (Ref. 080337)

25/04/2008 EU: MEPs want the European Commission to fight harder against social dumping

Gathered in a plenary session on April 22, MEPs judged that the Commission's recommendation on better cooperation between Member States to enforce the directive on the posting of workers (see our article No. 080269) did not protect them well enough. Concerned with the follow-up action regarding the CJEC's recent decisions (Viking, Laval and Ruffert), which open the way for social dumping, many MEPs challenged Vladimir Spidla on the need to strengthen posted workers' legal protection. This last referred to the coming Social Agenda which should "offer a first outlined answer adapted to mobility's stakes for the protection of workers". (Ref. 080336)

25/04/2008 Netherlands: large groups commit in the suburbs

The Hague's Municipality organized a special "participation" summit, during which several large groups committed to invest in four suburbs around the city, Transvaal, Schilderswijk, ZuidWest and Stationsbuurt/Rivierenbuurt. The goal is to reduce school failure, drug issues and crime in these neighborhoods. (Ref. 080335)

25/04/2008 Rhodia: the international framework on CSR renewed

The French chemistry group Rhodia (15.000 employees) and the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) signed, on march 25, 2008, the renewal of the agreement on "social responsibility" signed in 2005 (see our "tools" section). The new text strengthens union rights, and the follow-up of the agreement, and puts it in line with the group's approach of corporate social responsibility. (Ref. 080333)

24/04/2008 Germany: the Grand Coalition wants to develop employees' participation in the capital of companies

After about six months of talks, the conservative party (CDU/CSU) and the social-democratic party (SPD) presented, on April 21, 2008, the guidelines of a project to encourage employees to participate in their company's capital. Employers vividly criticize it, while unions welcomed it. It should come into effect in January 2009. (Ref. 080332)

24/04/2008 Portugal: the procedure for the reform of the Labor code began

Following the white paper on the reform of labor law (see our article No. 080025), the Portuguese Government has just presented its proposals which notably aim at simplifying dismissals, adapting working time, clarifying the relationship between law and collective bargaining and limiting fixed-term contracts. The proposals were sent to the social partners for consultation and their reactions, very antagonistic, suggest that it will be hard to reach a compromise. (Ref. 080331)

24/04/2008 Great Britain: consultation for better cooperation between businesses and universities

The government has just launched a consultation on the strengthening of the relationship between employers and universities, so the latter can train graduates with the skills needed on the labor market. (Ref. 080330)

24/04/2008 Italy: the Cgil's representativeness questioned

After the results of the last legislative elections, which showed the Cgil's incapacity to bring its members' votes to the Democratic Party, the Confindustria's outgoing chair questioned its representativeness. The organization suspects employers of wanting to undermine the trade union on the eve of the beginning of the negotiations on collective bargaining's structure. This is happening as a controversial book on the "union caste" has just been published and that, in practice, unity between the three large unions seems tottering. (Ref. 080327)