European round-up

Brittany Ferries to take P&O routes FRENCH P&O employees demonstrated in Cherbourg following the British operator’s decision to abandon its western and centre Channel routes except Portsmouth-Bilbao. French Channel operator Brittany Ferries (BAI) will maintain capacity from Cherbourg and transform numerous short-term contracts at Cherbourg into full-time jobs. About 70 Cherbourg-based P&O employees lose their jobs. BAI said it would take over the UK operator’s commercial activity, but not its “errors of strategy and management which in a few years would lead to the same disastrous results”. It will operate the Cherbourg- Portsmouth route with a fast ferry with more vehicle and freight capacity than P&O’s Cherbourg Express catamaran. It is also taking over P&O’s Le Havre-Portsmouth service, saving 350 British seafaring jobs. From January, BAI’s Val de Loire will service the route with either the Pride of Portsmouth or Pride of Le Havre 1,650-passenger sister ships that presently operates from Le Havre.The P&O vessels will be renamed respectively Etretat and Honfleur. Dutch unions reject benefits reduction MORE than 250,000 people demonstrated in Amsterdam last month in the largest anti- government protest for 20 years. Organised by the three Dutch TUCs, demonstrators rallied against the right-wing government’s plans to reduce pensions and health spending while raising taxes.The action was preceded by a 24-hour transport and public services strike. The measures include an end to early retirement provisions and a bid to stop making collective agreements binding, something which protects pay levels and which has long been part of the Dutch industrial relations system. French unions in dispute with SNCF The French rail unions and management (SNCF) met again in October to discuss wages and a possible dispute prevention mechanism.The SNCF agreed to draft a revised document giving more access to management to rank-and-file union represen- tatives. The SNCF has also agreed to union demands to re-open wage negotiations following the rejection by most unions of a proposed 1.5 per cent across-the- board rise for 2004 after no increase last year. But a large gap remains between the main union’s demands and the management offer.The CGT, the biggest of the eight French rail unions, claim is for six per cent to make up for lost purchasing power over the last few years. Belgium set to close one-third of stations BELGIAN rail unions are concerned over job losses following reports from SNCB, Belgium’s rail operator, suggesting that 200 of its 530 stations should be closed.The preliminary report states that the stations in question are used by less than 3 per cent of passengers and could go in a cost-cutting exercise to reduce its deficit ahead of opening the passenger rail sector to competition. Most Belgian routes cover less than 100km long and four-fifths of SNCB’s operations concern the country’s 10 busiest stations. SNCB is also considering ceasing ticket and season ticket sales in a number of small stations. It has already introduced the measure to 275 stations that no longer have ticket-sales staff. It is advocating extending its ticket sales to the internet, a system it established last spring. SNCB reports a 7 per cent increase in passenger traffic in the first half of this year, due mainly to the introduction of free travel for civil servants and the staff of publicly-owned companies.The ministries and companies involved fund the scheme that from January 1 2005 is to be extended to privately owned firms that agree to pay 80 per cent of the cost. France seafarers protest at job losses MORE than 100 people demonstrated in Brest against the reflagging of the Léon Thevenin, the third of France Telecom Marine’s (FTM) cable layers from the full French flag to its Kergulen second register. Madagascar nationals are replacing 160 French ratings. About half the ratings have either been granted early retirement provisions or been reclassified to land jobs at France Telecom.The remaining 80 will be paid they have been found jobs. FTM last year de-flagged its two other cable layers. Under the FTM collective agreement French ratings work eight weeks on, eight weeks off. While the operator will pay the Madagascar seafarers France’s minimum wage, they must work six months at sea with six weeks leave. Italians promise ‘hot autumn’ ITALY’S three TUCs and especially their rail and transport affiliates, have promised the right-wing government a “hot autumn” against the 2005 budget and pensions package which increases from 35 to 40 the number of years of contributions before receiving a full pension. Union action in three massive united demonstrations and stoppages slowed government plans to reform the state pensions system which now starts in 2008 after the measure was forced through parliament in vote of confidence to prevent the collapse of millionaire media mogul Silvio Berlusconi’s five-party coalition for the ninth time since January. The unions are now considering action against the cost-cutting draft budget presently being discussed in parliament. EUROPEANROUND-UP Greek trade union banners on an Anti-war demonstration to mark the end of the European Social Forum held at Alexandra Palace in north London last month. © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk 26 European Social Forum comes to London