EIROnlineThe European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) is a monitoring instrument offering news and analysis on European industrial relations. Its aim is to collect, analyse and disseminate high-quality and up-to-date information on key developments in industrial relations in Europe. It aims primarily to serve the needs of national and European level organisations of the social partners, governmental organisations and EU institutions.New EU programme to target social inclusion and equality- January 22, 2007 On 5 December 2006, the European Commission launched a new integrated programme for employment and social solidarity. The programme will provide the necessary and much-improved tools for better anticipating and responding to the collective challenges facing the EU. This article sets out the programmes main objectives, demonstrating the role of employer and worker organisations in meeting key targets of social inclusion and equality.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/eu0612079i.html European Court ruling on case of dismissal on grounds of sickness- January 11, 2007 On 11 July 2006, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) re-defined its interpretation of the concept of disability in a case brought against a catering company by a Spanish worker. The court ruling makes it clear that the protection of employees against discrimination on the grounds of disability, guaranteed under the Framework Directive, also applies in the case of dismissals. However, the court also made an important distinction between the concept of disability and sickness, stipulating that...http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/eu0612069i.html European Court upholds pay system based on length of service in equal treatment case- January 9, 2007 In October 2006, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its ruling on the case of Cadman versus the Health and Safety Executive regarding the interpretation of service-related pay, in the context of its potentially discriminatory impact. The case illustrates the circumstances under which the criterion of length of service is appropriate to attain a legitimate objective of rewarding experience. It demonstrates that employers do not have to establish specifically that service to the company is..http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/eu0612059i.html Diversity in implementation of telework agreement across the EU- January 9, 2007 For the first time, the European social partners have presented a joint report on the implementation of an autonomous agreement on telework. The report provides an overview of the procedures, instruments and progress of the agreements implementation, and highlights the variety of implementation results and differences in reporting. The implementation procedure was not completed in all European countries.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/eu0611029i.html Inauguration of European social dialogue in the hospital sector- January 4, 2007 In September 2006, the first joint meeting of the European-level social partners in the hospital sector took place, which marked the establishment of a European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the sector. As a result, the social partners have adopted a work programme for 20062007 which focuses on recruitment and retention, age profiles within the sector, and new skills requirements.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/10/articles/eu0610039i.html Trade unions urged to embrace gender mainstreaming- January 4, 2007 A recent report on gender mainstreaming by the European Trade Union Institute recommends ways in which trade unions can tackle gender inequalities within their own institutions. Starting with a conceptual definition of gender mainstreaming, the report gives practical guidelines for promoting the interests of women and highlights good practice examples drawn from trade unions.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/eu0612029i.html |