European Trade Union Confederation

A crippling French transport strike dragged into its 39th day on Jan. 12 despite the government's offer to withdraw the most contested measure of the pension reform plans that sparked the protest.    

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Jan. 11 offered a major concession to unions contesting his government's overhaul of the pension system, in a move aimed at ending strikes which are now in their fifth week.

Protests in France will continue during the holidays. This was announced by the unions, who warned that there will be no "Christmas truce", NOVA reported.

The workers are striking against the pension reform.

The two biggest trade unions in Bulgaria- the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and Podkrepa Confederation of Labor are preparing a joint nationwide protest at the end of November.

The industrial federations of Podkrepa Confederation of Labour and the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) are launching a national petition for increase of the pay for night time work, BNT reported.

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (KNSB/CITUB) proposes the start trilateral negotiations between business, trade unions and the government to sign a two-year national agreement by the end of the Cabinet's term, Confederation President Plamen Dimitrov said. The proposal is for the agreements to be in three areas:

In Bulgaria, 41% of workers say working time is not in line with family and social commitments. On average, for the EU this share is about 22%. This is due to the fact that the different forms of employment are not widely spread in Bulgaria.

Trade unions and employers have opposed the proposal of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) to reduce VAT on flour and flour products, milk, eggs and cheese from 20% to 5%, and of medicines to 9%, Focus News Agency reports.

30% is the grey economy, according to trade union figures.

"Preventing and restricting undeclared work in Bulgaria" is the topic of a roundtable organized by The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB).

The Swedish owner of Electrolux Satu Mare threatens, through the voice of the workers who did not join the strike, to relocate its production to Poland, informs a release issued by president of the "Cartel ALFA" National Trade Union Confederation Bogdan Hossu on Friday. The reaction of the union leader comes after 100 non-striking employees sent an open letter to their striking fellows.