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Netherlands - The FNV Abvakabo trade union has called on local government employers to respond to its claims by 13th February. The union wants a job security agreement, a pay increase to protect purchasing power and more investment in permanent staff rather than temporary workers. It has rejected an offer from the employers that would mean a pay increase of only 1% over 31 months. Abvakabo argues that initiatives to retrain workers and find them alternative jobs will end up saving the authorities millions in the cost of unemployment benefit. CNV Publieke Zaak has also rejected the employers’ offer and is very disappointed in the failure to make progress in the negotiations. Advice http://www.epsu.org Sweden - The Kommunal local government union has rejected a proposal by the mayor of Stockholm that workers under the age of 25 should be offered jobs on pay rates at 75% of the minimum of the collective agreement. The union argues that there is a high demand for workers, particularly in the social care sector, but these workers need to be properly trained. It says it is willing to negotiate about the provision of training for young workers and also calls for more funding from central government. Advice http://www.epsu.org Austria - The GDG-KMSfB union has negotiated a pay deal for employees of local authorities in the Carinthia region. There is a 2.56% increase plus a flat-rate rise of €11,10 a month. This is the same as the main agreement negotiated at federal level but applies from 1.4.2012 rather than 1.2.2012. There will be further negotiations in 2013 in contrast to the arrangements covering employees of the regional government in Carinthia who get the same increase in 2012 but a pay freeze in 2013 and in 2014 the increase will be the same as at federal level. Advice http://www.epsu.org