Work ProgrammeCollective Bargaining

& Social Policy

IntroductionAnna-Lena Börgö EtaatBart Samyn

INTRODUCTION

• Collective Bargaining is Trade Union Core Business Defending trade union autonomy Fighting attacks on our strengths and solidarity Fighting attacks on our Collective Bargaining systems Fighting the effects of the crisis and neo-liberal policies

• NEED FOR: Strong national trade unions Strong industriAll Europe Strong European-wide coordinated collective bargaining

INTRODUCTION 2

• Aim is to improve working and living conditions Centred on an active & coordinated wage policy Using all possible tools

•NEED FOR: Increased coverage rate of collective agreements NO social and wage competition Job and employment security Decent work & fair wages Visibility of our policies

WAGE POLICIES & TOOLS

1. WAGE COORDINATION RULE High priority for the new organisation Unified position paper Improved and stronger cooperation with ETUC

2. WORKING TIME Revision of Working Time Directive Coverage rate of Working Time Directive Revision of our own guidelines on working time Special attention to increased flexibilisation

WAGE POLICIES & TOOLS 2

3. WORK LIFE BALANCE Increased demands on availability from

employers Need for good working time regulations Need for protection Need for career breaks and periods of leaveEffect of unpaid domestic work on labour

market availability, income and even level of pensions, especially for women

WAGE POLICIES & TOOLS 3

4. EUCOB@N Hugely important tool for our CB strategy

Evaluated and improved Increase participation rate More emphasis on forecastsImportance of day-to-day information on CB

rounds (more than just results), strikes, labour market issues, labour/social legislation or changes ...

WAGE POLICIES & TOOLS 4

5. EUCOB@N WEBSITE Design has to reflect new organisation Discussion on how to organise website

6. REGIONAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NETWORKSSee how to extend and improve existing

networksSee how to involve other sectors (for the

moment limited to metal)

COMMON DEMANDS

1. PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT CD Exists in all three founding organisations Need to harmonise the position Discuss how to organise the campaign and

different timings

2. TRAINING CD Exists in 2 of the 3 founding organisations Need for continued evaluation and follow-up

DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES

Changes in the composition of the workforce from young > to much older

Debate on pension age and working longerLink to working conditions, incentivesCompetences ( and transfer of competences)Access to training for ALL categories of workers

including training to access the labour market

PRECARIOUS WORK

Huge increase in all forms of precarious work Slowed during crisis, but re-emerging even

stronger (abuse of crisis situation) Erosion of normal working and living conditions, especially for migrant, women and young

workers Need to reduce low wage sectors in Europe, e.g. Minimum wages (following national

practices)

PRECARIOUS WORK 2• Enormous amount of different forms of precarious

workDifferent contract forms (best known and most

widespread: temporary agency work) = flexibility of contracts

Flexibility of working timeNon-solicitation agreements (difficulty for changing jobs)Lack of representation (TU) or access to social security,

training, ... Bogus self employment Job security

EUROPEAN TRANSNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

• European level negotiations for multinational companies are important Importance of including the trade unions Importance of the mandate procedure (as accepted by

the Founding Congress) Logical need for an optional legal framework for such

agreements• Commission initiative without direct outlook for result• Commission initiative on restructuring

Need for a European right to strike

SOCIAL POLICY ISSUES

• IMPORTANT LINK (national as well as European) between collective bargaining rounds and social/labour legislation

• Important to have quick and good overview of EU initiatives, which for the time being are: working time flexicurity pensions health & safety posting directive whistle blowing