Germany: ver.di approves public service collective agreement
The trade union ver.di’s Federal Collective Bargaining Commission for the Public Sector (BTK öD) with a large majority approved the collective bargaining result for the approximately 2.5 million employees in the federal and municipal public sector. Previously, almost 66% of the ver.di members in federal administrations, authorities, municipal institutions and companies had already spoken out in favour of the negotiation result of 22 April in a membership survey. The wage and salary increase for employees will be 11.5% on average. The employees will also receive €3,000 inflation compensation free of taxes and social security contributions. The collective agreement will run until 31 December 2024.
Greece: agreement for dockworkers
The Port of Thessaloniki (ThPA S.A.) has concluded a three-year collective agreement with dockworkers. The employer said that negotiations with the Federation of Stevedores of Greece (OFE) had resulted in a collective agreement for 2023–2025 regulating wage terms and conditions for dockworkers. According to OFE, 'the safeguarding of wages and working conditions of dockworkers contributes to strengthening the sense of job security and a peaceful working environment'.
Spain: new National Framework Agreement on Employment and Collective Bargaining
On 10 May, representatives of the two trade unions CCOO and UGT and the CEOE and Cepyme employer confederations ratified a new three-year national framework agreement on employment and collective bargaining (AENC) making this the fifth edition in the space of 15 years. The agreement contains recommendations that will serve to guide collective agreement renewal negotiations over the next three years. This pre-agreement establishes a wage increase of 4% in 2023, 3% in 2024 and 3% in 2025. In addition, a review clause has been incorporated with increases of up to an additional 1% if inflation exceeds these increases, with the aim of recovering wages.
Sweden: new agreement for railway workers
After mediation, the trade unions Seko, SRAT, ST, Sveriges Ingenjörer and Almega Train companies (Tågföretagen) have agreed on a new collective agreement for railway workers. This means that the announced strike is withdrawn. Salaries will increase by 7.4% during the two-year contract period. Shortening of working hours will be investigated in a joint working group with a clear focus on starting a shortening of working hours during the contract period.
Switzerland: union reveals discrimination in female-dominated industries
The hourly wages in female-dominated occupations are significantly lower than typically male-dominated occupations and sectors - even after completing an apprenticeship. Women receive a 13th monthly wage much less often than men. And in industries with a majority of women, wage progression is worse because experience and years of service bring hardly any noticeable improvements. The income gap for women is not only due to increased – and often not freely chosen – part-time work, but also due to the economic disregard for “women’s jobs”. The Swiss Trade Union Confederation (SGB) is therefore calling for a rapid revaluation of low wages in the so-called 'women's sectors'.
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