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EU social partners: Partners asked to negotiate on EWCs
On 20 February 2008, the European Commission invited EU-level representatives of trade unions and employers to open negotiations on updating and improving the way that European Works Councils operate, with a view to revising the existing EU Directive on the subject.
France: Purchasing power legislation adopted
A new law "in favour of purchasing power" was adopted by parliament on 31 January 2008 and published in the Official Journal on 9 February. It allows employees, under certain circumstances, to trade in time-off entitlements for pay, thereby increasing their working time and earnings.
Germany: Steel settlement brings substantial real pay rise
In the first major pay settlement in the 2008 bargaining round, the 85,000 workers in the west German steel industry have secured a 5.2% pay increase from 1 March, in a 13-month deal that will run until 31 March 2009.
Ireland: Difficult start to national pay talks
February 2008 saw the opening shots in negotiations over a new national pay deal, with trade unions clashing with employers and the government over wage moderation, and demanding action on temporary agency work and employment rights as a precondition for an agreement.
Italy: Negotiations start on reform of bargaining system
On 21 February 2008, trade union confederations and employers’ organisations opened negotiations on a reform of the Italian collective bargaining system. They have agreed that the first issues to be addressed will be a simplification of the number of collective agreements; the duration of agreements; the relationship between agreed pay rises and inflation; and the tax system.
Spain: Average 3.3% pay increase so far agreed for 2008
According to ministry of labour figures, by the end of January 2008, pay agreements for 2008 had been signed covering 4.5 million workers, providing for an average wage increase of 3.27%.
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