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EU: Chemicals social partners agree on short-time work and lay-offs
EU-level trade union and employers' representatives in the chemicals industry agreed a joint declaration in March 2009 on short-time work and lay-offs, calling for prior workforce consultation, training for the workers affected and public support for companies.
Germany: Economic crisis hits collective bargaining
The economic downturn is beginning to have an effect on collective bargaining, with some employers in metalworking seeking to defer agreed pay increases. A new collective agreement in the textiles industry allows employers to reduce or cancel wage rises if they face difficulties.
Ireland: Unions agree to national recovery talks
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions accepted an invitation from the Government on 25 March 2009 to engage in tripartite talks over measures to tackle the economic crisis, and suspended planned nationwide strike action pending the outcome of the negotiations.
Italy: Government proposes limits on transport strikes
The Italian Government proposed new legislation in February 2009, aimed at cutting the high number of strikes in the transport sector, notably by only allowing larger trade unions to call industrial action.
Poland: Social partners agree short-time work and hours flexibility
Trade unions and employers' organisations reached agreement in March 2009 on measures aimed at helping companies weather the economic crisis without making redundancies.
Spain: Government takes emergency action on employment
The Spanish Government approved a set of urgent measures in March 2009, aimed at saving and creating jobs and helping unemployed people, after trade unions and employers' organisations failed to reach agreement on this issue, or on pay increases for 2009.
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