France: step towards creation of a universal time savings account National industrial relations The social partners in Italy of hotel group Marriot International penned a renewal of the company agreement on 29 June. The deal implements innovative measures geared towards overcoming the deep crisis endured by the hotels sector and fostering the post-pandemic recovery. Applicable until the end of 2024, the agreement introduces greater flexibility in the use fixed-term contracts but seeks to protect quality employment, in particular by providing stability for regular seasonal workers. The performance bonus will not be paid this year, but the social partners will set up a corporate welfare programme.
United States: historic victory for the UAW at Volkswagen in the South National industrial relations On 19 April, the United Auto Workers (UAW) achieved a historic victory in the Southern United States by winning the membership of 5,500 employees at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga,…
France: joint negotiations on universal time savings account (CETU) and professional retraining National industrial relations At the initiative of the U2P, the employers' organisation representing very small businesses and craft trades, the trade unions – CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC – are once again meeting to negotiate regarding the universal time savings account (CETU) and professional retraining. Two draft agreements have been sent to the unions by the U2P, following the failure of negotiations on the 'new pact for working life', designed to accompany the increase in the legal retirement age.
Italy: generational renewal agreement penned at BNP Paribas subsidiary National industrial relations The agreement signed on 9 April by BNL-BNP Paribas, the Italian subsidiary of the French banking group,…
France: Publicis regulates teleworking without rolling back this right National industrial relations Publicis chief executive Arthur Sadoun signalled a return to the office for the communications group's staff in statements to the media in autumn last year, however the firm struck an agreement in November that maintains the existing rhythm of two days of teleworking per week. The text, signed by a majority of the unions more than three and a half years after the start of Covid-19, provides a framework for a decentralised group and grants new rights to disabled employees, carers and pregnant women. The company's HR director discusses the implementation of this framework with mind RH.
France: Engie hands staff a €500 sustainable mobility package National industrial relations Under an agreement signed on 29 March 2024, Engie SA is granting €500 a year to its employees so they can make regular use of bicycles (including electric and self-service) or carpooling.…
France: negotiations on keeping older workers in employment fail National industrial relations Negotiations initiated by the social partners at the request of the government to accompany the recent increase in the legal retirement age and to prevent burn-out have ended in failure. The possibility of an agreement being signed now seems in jeopardy.
Italy: collective agreement in tertiary sector puts emphasis on equality National industrial relations The agreement signed on 22 March by the employer organisations Confcommercio and Confesercenti and the trade unions Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl and Uiltucs provides for a €240 pay rise and improvements in the area of gender equality. This is the most significant collective agreement in Italy's private sector, covering more than 3 million people in retail (excluding supermarkets), the tertiary sector and services.
Germany: Deutsche Bahn proposes switch to 35-hour week with an ‘options-based’ model National industrial relations After two months of failed collective bargaining and "surprise" strikes, the train drivers' union GDL and Deutsche Bahn have reached an innovative agreement on a 35-hour working week with no reduction in pay, starting in 2029, and in several "non-automatic" stages.
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.