Germany: Deutsche Bahn proposes switch to 35-hour week with an ‘options-based’ model National industrial relations On 06 December, four trade union bodies (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC and UNSA) and the French Insurance Federation (FFA) signed the insurance sector’s first ever framework agreement on telework. Although not binding, the agreement is expected to serve as a benchmark for company negotiations in a sector where teleworking is now becoming the norm. The text, that its signatories consider to be ‘not very innovative’ recognises the need both to support teleworkers in specific situations and to train managers.
France: agreement struck in digital, engineering and consultancy sectors to combat sexual harassment National industrial relations On 15 March, the social partners in France's so-called 'Betic' branch, comprising technical consultancies, engineering consultancies and consultancy firms (1.2 million employees), signed an agreement designed to combat sexual harassment and sexist behaviour in the workplace. Both educational and practical in nature, the text aims to give employers and employees in the sector the tools they need to prevent and deal with such situations.
Luxembourg: OGBL union seeks breakthrough at Amazon National industrial relations The OGBL, the largest trade union in the Grand Duchy (with over 70,000 members), is for the first time presenting a list of candidates at Amazon ahead of the “social”…
United States: Starbucks pledges to start negotiations with Workers United union National industrial relations In a press release issued on 27 February, Sara Kelly, vice president and chief human resources officer of Starbucks (240,000 employees in the United States),…
France: RATP wants to trial four-day week National industrial relations On 21 February, Paris public transport operator RATP (65,000 employees) and three trade unions representative at the company (FO, CFE-CGC and UNSA) signed a three-year agreement (2024-2026) on employees’…
Germany: record rise in new union memberships National industrial relations Unions affiliated to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) recorded a 37% increase in new memberships in 2023. This new impetus for the movement can be explained by the need for security in a badly shaken economy, as well as the visibility of strikes and the results achieved in collective bargaining. This trend is likely to continue in 2024, in a labour market that is favourable to employees.
France: Malakoff Humanis steps up support for victims of domestic violence and women suffering from endometriosis National industrial relations On 5 December 2023, social protection group Malakoff Humanis and five trade unions signed a new three-year agreement on professional equality. It allocates a budget for individual salary increases designed to close gender-based gaps, reinforces paternity leave and provides for days of absence dedicated to women's health.
Italy: new agreement on generational renewal at UniCredit National industrial relations The agreement signed on 19 December between Italy's second-largest bank and the Fabi, First-Cisl, Fisac-Cgil, Uilca and Unisin trade unions will enable 510 employees to take early retirement, while new recruits could total 424. The ratio of departures to new hires should therefore be higher than standard practice in the Italian banking sector (one new hire for every two departures).
Italy: Essilor-Luxottica trials four-day week in its plants National industrial relations Under the agreement signed between eyewear group Essilor-Luxottica and the trade unions for the period 2024-2026, there will be 20 four-day weeks per year, with no reduction in pay. Approved on 27 December by the workers' assemblies, the agreement concerns 15,000 of the group's employees in Italy, making it the largest short working week trial in industry in the country.
France: Thales signs group agreement focusing on workloads National industrial relations On 20 November, the management of defence and aerospace group Thales and all the trade unions (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC and CGT) signed a first group agreement on working time. The agreement establishes a fixed working day for managers and engineers, and provides for regular monitoring of workloads in order to foster a better work-life balance. It also proposes new end-of-career support measures.