Labour news from Europe
Albania
Child Labour Extensive – More Efforts Needed to Fight Exploitation 2010-04-28 [ITUC] FSPISH Congress Places Emphasis on International Solidarity 2009-11-30 [ICEM]
ICEM Strengthens Connection with Trade Unions 2009-10-05 [ICEM]
Andorra
ETUC Executive Committee supports its affiliate in Andorra 2008-03-06 [ETUC]
Armenia
ICEM Boosts Presence in the Caucasus 2010-05-31 [ICEM] Serious Workers’ Rights Problems in Armenia 2010-04-08 [ITUC]
Cab drivers, gold traders in Armenia protest ‘tax pressures’ 2010-02-19 [Armenia Liberty]
Austria
Overworked judges to strike next week 2010-02-19 [The Earth Times] Founding Congress Takes Place of New Manufacturing Union PRO.GE 2009-12-14 [ICEM]
'Stronger together. The Joint Congress of Austrian Metallurgical and Chemical Workers Trade Unions took place in Vienna' 2009-12-04 [MMWU site]
Azerbaijan
Union dismay as new jail sentence handed out to Azerbaijani journalist 2010-07-09 [IFJ] Migrant construction workers exploited in Azerbaijan 2010-04-20 [BWI]
Energy Workers’ Network of Caspian Meets in Baku 2010-03-22 [ICEM]
Belarus
Workers’ strike in Belarusian town of Baran 2010-06-17 [Charter 97] Belchimprofsoyuz Wards off National Labour Centre in Union Election 2010-06-14 [ICEM]
Illegal search of the REPAM office in Brest 2010-05-28 [International Metalworkers Federation]
Belgium
CSC/ACV Chemicals/Energy, Construction Unions Merge 2010-06-14 [ICEM] Union mobilization in Belgium for a better common status 2010-06-05 [International Metalworkers Federation]
Trade unions plan action day over budget cuts 2010-06-04 [AFP]
Bosnia
Bulgaria
Violations of workers' rights at IBM Bulgaria 2010-07-02 [International Metalworkers Federation] Socialists Hold Protests on Labor Day 2010-05-02 [Novinite]
Cabinet ready to clear 500M leva of debt to private sector - unions 2010-03-30 [Sofia Echo]
Croatia
Unions defend collective bargaining rights in Croatia 2010-07-22 [International Metalworkers Federation] Unions force referendum on labour law, deal blow to government 2010-07-02 [Deutsche Press Agentur]
Labour unions have over 700,000 signatures 2010-06-25 [Croatian Times]
Cyprus
Police threaten strike action 2010-07-13 [Cyprus Mail] Union calls on public to protest new tax hikes 2010-04-15 [Cyprus Mail]
Finance Minister clashes with Cyprus Union over civil servant pay with cut 2010-04-09 [Balkans.com]
Czech
Denmark
Colleagues unwilling to support workplace injury claimants 2010-07-16 [Copenhagen Post] Low cost airline should enter into agreements with workers says Danish union 2010-07-07 [ITF]
Workers End Strike At Carlsberg As New Talks Begin 2010-05-19 [Kam City]
Estonia
Estonian construction workers heat up emotions in north of Finland 2010-04-09 [Helsingin Sanomat] Trade unions collected signatures against raising of pension age 2010-03-11 [Estonian Free Press]
Finnish trade unions would keep Estonian builders away from renovation works 2009-10-15 [Baltic Business]
Faroe
Finland
Employment relations last over eight years on average 2010-07-31 [Trade Union News from Finland] Hundreds of pay claims in catering and retail businesses 2010-07-23 [Trade Union News from Finland]
Exhaustion trebles work death risk 2010-07-14 [Hazards magazine]
France
Air traffic back to normal after strike 2010-07-22 [AP] Air traffic controllers' strike leaves 2,000 grounded 2010-07-22 [Irish Times]
Workers agree benefit cuts, salary freeze as part of GM deal 2010-07-21 [Reuters]
Georgia
Defending independent teacher unionism in Georgia 2010-06-30 [Education International] International commission will investigate case on Georgian Education Ministry and Trade Union 2010-06-22 [Trend]
Miners, Metalworkers Get Long Overdue Pay Rises 2010-05-31 [ICEM]
Germany
Porsche guarantees 9,000 jobs in Germany 2010-07-26 [The Local] Works Council Elections Cement IGBCE’s Strong Mandate 2010-07-26 [ICEM]
Sick leave for psychological problems at record high 2010-07-12 [The Local]
Gibraltar
Unite to campaign for recognition of Workers' Memorial Day 2010-04-28 [Gibraltar Chronicle] Unions campaign against illegal labour 2010-04-10 [Gibraltar Chronicle]
Chamber of Commerce has come out in support of Unite the Union's campaign targeting illegal labour 2010-03-18 [Gibraltar Chronicle]
Greece
Truck drivers clash with police as tensions rise over strikes 2010-07-31 [The Telegraph] Military to step in as truckers vote to continue strike 2010-07-31 [CNN]
Truckers and Police Clash Over Plan to Extend Strike 2010-07-31 [The Times]
Hungary
Unions seek to block alleged civil servant layoffs 2010-07-04 [Budapest Report] Hankook Tyre Given Fine for Blocking Union 2010-06-14 [ICEM]
Electric, Mining Unions Oppose State Liquidation of Power Company 2010-05-17 [ICEM]
Iceland
SIPTU to meet over Dublin waste dispute 2010-07-28 [RTE] ire and ambulance crews threaten strike action 2010-07-16 [Ice News]
Icelandair mechanics' strike halted 2010-03-23 [eTN]
Ireland
Eason workers get their festive bonuses -- 210 days after Christmas 2010-07-31 [Irish Independent] Leitrim workers dispute before Labour Court 2010-07-31 [Ocean FM]
Ballot over threatened job cuts in HSE West 2010-07-31 [Mayo Advertiser]
Italy
Fiat Union Workers Strike in Italy, Slowing Production 2010-07-24 [WSJ] Berlusconi says Fiat free to move to Serbia 2010-07-24 [FT.com]
Unions take united strike against Indesit plant closures 2010-07-22 [International Metalworkers Federation]
Latvia
Unions and students protest budget cuts 2009-12-06 [Egypt and Beyond] UNI condemns new Latvian law on pensions, social benefits 2009-07-23 [UNI]
Teachers salaries to be cut 20 percent 2009-04-20 [The Baltic Times]
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Vilnius unions threaten general strike 2010-02-13 [Baltic Reports] Massive layoffs in Lithuania as nuke plants shut as condition of EU membership 2010-01-04 [RT]
Spotlight with Sergejus Glovackas ( ITUC/PERC –Vilnius, Lithuania) 2009-12-10 [ITUC]
Luxembourg
Rail workers in Luxembourg rally for public services and secure jobs 2010-04-21 [ITF] Angry steelworkers storm ArcelorMittal meeting 2009-05-13 [Associated Press]
Angry Steelworkers Mount Violent Protest At ArcelorMittal AGM 2009-05-13 [EasyBourse]
Macedonia
This year trade unions give up May Day protests for meeting 2010-05-01 [Focus] Journalists Union To Stage Sunday Protest 2009-05-02 [Balkan Insight]
Mavrovo workers to go on strike 2009-04-06 [Makfax]
Malta
World Bank commissioned to study pension system 2010-07-20 [The Times] PM appeals to workers and union in ST issue 2010-07-11 [Times of Malta]
ST workers throw out austerity measures 2010-07-10 [Times of Malta]
Moldova
Global crisis affecting Moldovan migrant workers 2008-12-09 [RFE] Review of teacher salaries urgently needed 2008-09-11 [EI]
Moldovan drivers win pay agreement in Lithuania 2008-08-21 [ITF]
Monaco
Workers go on strike 2009-04-17 [Euronews] Workers take to Monaco streets in rare protest 2009-04-17 [Reuters, via Ynet News]
General strike over job cuts 2009-04-16 [AP]
Netherlands
FNV Members Give Nod to Raise Future Pension Age 2010-07-12 [ICEM] Right wing MPs vote to freeze teachers' salaries 2010-07-04 [Dutch News]
FNV union members back pension age increase plan 2010-07-04 [Dutch News]
Norway
Post union makes special web page for liberalisation fight 2010-07-06 [UNI] Strike Avoided, Salary Increases for Oilworkers 2010-06-28 [ICEM]
Security guard strike continues - 'Scream' Munch museum shut 2010-06-19 [Norway Post]
Poland
y Poland
Send Protest to Cadbury Poland 2010-07-21 [Pracownik] Strikes at Fiat and Letter of Solidarity from Poland 2010-07-15 [Pracownik]
Important Ruling of Constitutional Tribunal for Trade Union Activists 2010-07-14 [Pracownik]
Portugal
Forum denounces privatisation of CTT Correios Portugal 2010-06-30 [UNI] Thousands in Lisbon protest against austerity cuts 2010-05-30 [Reuters]
Top Portugal union readies big anti-austerity rally 2010-05-29 [Reuters]
Romania
Thousands protest as Parliament debates no-confidence motion 2010-06-16 [The Times-Herald] Country faces general strike against austerity 2010-06-04 [Foxeyard]
Strike against austerity measures 2010-06-01 [The Voice of Russia]
Russia
Unions fear government crackdown with new laws on terrorism and extremism 2010-07-24 [Moscow News] Russian airline sexism row comment 2010-07-08 [ITF]
Employers Resume Pay Raises 2010-06-19 [Moscow Times]
San Marino
Serbia
Zastava Union: 'Serious Doubts' About Fiat Plans For Serbia 2010-07-24 [WSJ] Workers demand better conditions 2010-05-02 [B92]
Model Pharmaceutical Plant in Balkans Mission 2010-02-22 [ICEM]
Slovakia
Bus strike imminent only in Bratislava region, talks due on Tuesday 2010-06-01 [The Spectator] Shop Opening Hours 2010-02-02 [UNI]
5th Congress of Chemical Workers 2009-12-14 [ICEM]
Slovenia
Unions Protest Against Labour Legislation 2010-07-09 [STA] Minimum wages in metal sector rise in Slovenia 2010-03-25 [International Metalworkers Federation]
Minimum wages in metal sector rise in Slovenia 2010-03-24 [International Metalworkers Federation]
Spain
Construction worker has spent several weeks living on crane in protest at not being paid. 2010-07-18 [BBC] Madrid metro strike called off until Monday 'pending meetings with management' 2010-07-04 [Think Spain]
Workers in Europe shut down Madrid subway and strike against austerity in Greece 2010-07-02 [Axis of Logic]
Sweden
Bank workers union leads campaign to get rid of cash 2010-07-18 [BBC] More migrant forestry workers joining the union 2010-07-15 [BWI]
Sick benefit reform puts people back to work 2010-07-15 [The Local]
Switzerland
UNI “breaks through” on list of most influential 2010-07-06 [UNI] UNI “breaks through” on list of most influential 2010-07-06 [UNI]
UNI “breaks through” on list of most influential 2010-07-06 [UNI]
Turkey
Workers protest union-busting sackings by UPS ActNOW! 2010-07-29 [ITF] Labor ministry says UPS employer is unfair ActNOW! 2010-07-29 [LabourWorld.net]
Shipyard accident kills four workers 2010-07-25 [The Daily News]
Ukraine
Unions seek to block gas price increase pledged to gain IMF loan 2010-07-27 [Bloomberg] Coal miners threaten strike 2010-07-24 [UPI]
Workers of Kiev Plant of Aluminum Constructions appeal to Cabinet of MInisters 2010-07-02 [BWI]
UK
Britain’s tanker drivers have had enough, Unite warns 2010-08-01 [Unite] ‘13,000 jobs at risk if Trident is delayed’, says Unite 2010-08-01 [Unite]
‘The most vulnerable could be at risk in government welfare reforms’, says Unite 2010-08-01 [Unite]