Europe - pay public vs private - social rights committee backs unions - global action day right to strike - advice from EPSU

Europe	Conference debates public and private sector pay trends Over 80 trade unionists from 20 countries took part in EPSU’s collective bargaining and social dialogue conference on 13-14 January. A central theme on the first day included long-term developments in public sector pay and comparisons with the private sector. The conference also included a lively debate on minimum wages, a discussion about working time developments and a session on the structural reforms that the European Commission and European Central Bank want to see implemented across Europe. Read more at > EPSU (EN)
Spain	Council of Europe backs unions’ claims against government The Council of Europe’s Committee of Social Rights has supported many of the claims of violations of trade union rights brought by the CCOO and UGT union confederations against the government. The Committee says that the government has infringed the European Social Charter in relation to freedom of association; the right to strike; the level of the minimum wage; overtime pay; working time; holiday entitlement and notice periods. Overall the Committee notes seven breaches Spain’s obligations under the charter. However, it also has reserved its opinion on various matters on which the government has not provided enough information to decide. Read more at > CCOO (ES) And at > UGT (ES) And at > Council of Europe (EN)
Europe	Global action day on right to strike - 18 February The ITUC global union confederation has called a day of action on 18 February to reassert the right to strike. The initiative has been taken as employers’ group at the International Labour Conference in June 2014 denied that that the right to strike forms part of ILO Convention 87, thus undermining decades of jurisprudence and the application of international law. The Workers’ Group unanimously rejected the demands of the Employers’ group. The conflict over the right to strike has been referred to ILO’s Governing Body, which should make a decision in May this year and could could call on the International Court of Justice to produce an advisory opinion and put an end to the dispute. Read more at > ITUC (EN, DE, FR, ES) And at > PSI (EN, FR, ES)