In my previous opinion piece for Equal Times, I argued why workers and unions must engage in the topic of the digitalisation of work. This article picks up from the previous one by offering (...)
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed a decision today by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe that should put an end to restrictions on collective bargaining for self-employed persons. The Ministers’ Committee’s decision endorses an earlier ruling by the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) following pressure by the Irish Trade Union Confederation (ICTU) and its affiliates, SIPTU, Equity, the Musicians Union of Ireland and National Union of Journalists, and supported by the ETUC.
The UK is about to stop shareholders monopolising votes for company boards, with worker voice. Asset managers control most shareholder votes in public companies through ‘other people’s money’. They have systemic conflicts of interest, because shareholder votes may influence companies to buy asset managers’ financial products (eg pension schemes). This enables mass self-dealing.
The attack on workers’ rights, wages and collective bargaining systems in Europe is continuing. The latest incident can be found in the new DG ECFIN report on labour market developments in Europe.
In this year’s November session, the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association – the supervisory body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) that examines cases concerning employers’ and trade unions’ rights to organize, collective bargaining and social dialogue – examined an extensive deficit of social dialogue in austerity measures taken in Greece and highlighted the need for ILO assistance in the country.
Die Zeitungsverleger wollen die Gehälter für Redakteure kürzen, die Journalistengewerkschaften wollen das verhindern. Zur Not mit Streiks – und um Zeichen zu setzen. (Von Rene Martens)
Gut 50 Journalisten und sympathisierende Flashmober demonstrierten heute am Essener Willy-Brandt-Platz für die Pressefreiheit und für eine angemessene Honorierung der Journalisten.
B. Keller. European Union -- European industrial relations? Global challenge, national development and transitional dynamics, Routledge, London, (1998)