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News from across Europe

AlbertC said:
Violence in Paris amid nationwide pension reform protests

As prelude to day of action, power to thousands of homes deliberately cut by workers

Kim Willsher
Tue 17 Dec 2019 19.30 GMT

www.theguardian.com

Violence in Paris amid nationwide pension reform protests

As prelude to day of action, power to thousands of homes deliberately cut by workers
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
Click to expand...


Typical union nonsense:

Philippe Martinez, the general secretary of the powerful and hardline CGT union, told journalists. “We’re hearing so much bullshit … ever since Emmanuel Macron arrived he’s done nothing except to divide our citizens. It’s scandalous.”
Click to expand...

Yeah, by introducing a universal pension instead of the patchwork of special entitlements they're entirely dividing people.

Carry on ye self-entitled mob.
 
Germans think Trump is more dangerous than Kim Jong Un and Putin

By Rebecca Staudenmaier

When asked who posed the greatest threat to world peace, Germans in a recent poll overwhelmingly pointed to one person — Donald Trump. The US president beat out the leaders of North Korea, Russia, China and Iran.

m.dw.com

Germans fear Trump more than Kim and Putin – DW – 12/26/2019

When asked who posed the greatest threat to world peace, Germans in a recent poll overwhelmingly pointed to one person — Donald Trump. The US president beat out the leaders of North Korea, Russia, China and Iran.
m.dw.com m.dw.com
 
Macron calls for compromise but vows to deliver pension reform

The president has announced he will not back down on pension reforms despite ongoing strikes crippling the country's public transport system. Macron has maintained that the reform "is a project of social justice."

m.dw.com

Macron vows to push through pension reforms – DW – 01/01/2020

The president has announced he will not back down on pension reforms despite ongoing strikes crippling the country's public transport system. Macron has maintained that the reform "is a project of social justice."
m.dw.com m.dw.com
 
Germany cuts fares for long-distance rail travel in response to climate crisis

Cheaper fares as Deutsche Bahn passes on to customers the government’s cut on VAT

Fares for long-distance rail travel in Germany have dropped for the first time in 17 years, as climate protection measures aimed at making train travel more attractive came into effect with the new year.

Travellers taking trips of more than 50km (31 miles) on Deutsche Bahn’s Intercity Express trains can look forward to fare decreases of 10%.

www.theguardian.com

Germany cuts fares for long-distance rail travel in response to climate crisis

Cheaper fares as Deutsche Bahn passes on to customers the government’s cut on VAT
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com
 
Europeans Scramble to Work Out What They Can Do About Iran

Ben Sills
Bloomberg January 6, 2020

(Bloomberg) -- European leaders are battling to come up with a response to the escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. with their Middle East strategy shredded and the nuclear deal dead in all but name.

As French President Emmanuel Macron worked the phones, European Union foreign ministers arranged an extraordinary meeting on Jan. 10 in Brussels to discuss the situation.

ca.finance.yahoo.com

Europeans Scramble to Work Out What They Can Do About Iran

(Bloomberg) -- European leaders are battling to come up with a response to the escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. with their Middle East strategy shredded and the nuclear deal dead in all but name.As French President Emmanuel Macron worked the phones, European Union foreign ministers...
ca.finance.yahoo.com ca.finance.yahoo.com
 
Finland’s new prime minister wants her country on a four-day workweek

By Michelle Cheng January 6, 2020

Finland has been at the forefront of flexible work schedules for years, starting with a 1996 law that gives most employees the right to adjust their hours up to three hours earlier or later than what their employer typically requires.

The country’s newly installed political leader, Sanna Marin, has upped the ante, though, proposing last year, prior to her installation as prime minister, to put the entire country on a four-day workweek or six-hour workday.

qz.com

Finland’s new prime minister wants her country on a four-day workweek

Prime minister Sanna Marin says the policy could be the "next step" in working life
qz.com qz.com
 
AlbertC said:
Finland’s new prime minister wants her country on a four-day workweek

By Michelle Cheng January 6, 2020

Finland has been at the forefront of flexible work schedules for years, starting with a 1996 law that gives most employees the right to adjust their hours up to three hours earlier or later than what their employer typically requires.

The country’s newly installed political leader, Sanna Marin, has upped the ante, though, proposing last year, prior to her installation as prime minister, to put the entire country on a four-day workweek or six-hour workday.

qz.com

Finland’s new prime minister wants her country on a four-day workweek

Prime minister Sanna Marin says the policy could be the "next step" in working life
qz.com qz.com
Click to expand...
By shortening the workday or workweek, Finland can reduce unemployment by having more shifts available.
 
The six-hour workday is the more practical option.

Its easier to implement, as most 4-day models collapse the concept of a fixed weekend (4-on, 4-off); while the six hour work day likely yields better gains in productivity as the drop-off in same after six hours is well documented.

That said, actually implementing either on a large scale may prove challenging.

Just because its good policy doesn't make it easy to deliver.

After all we cant even seem to raise our paid vacation mandates to the global norm of 4 weeks minimum.
 
Northern Light said:
The six-hour workday is the more practical option.

Its easier to implement, as most 4-day models collapse the concept of a fixed weekend (4-on, 4-off); while the six hour work day likely yields better gains in productivity as the drop-off in same after six hours is well documented.

That said, actually implementing either on a large scale may prove challenging.

Just because its good policy doesn't make it easy to deliver.

After all we cant even seem to raise our paid vacation mandates to the global norm of 4 weeks minimum.
Click to expand...
With a six-hour workday, 24/7 operations can have four shifts per day rather than the current three 8-hour shifts today, which would reduce unemployment somewhat.
 
Northern Light said:
The six-hour workday is the more practical option.

Its easier to implement, as most 4-day models collapse the concept of a fixed weekend (4-on, 4-off); while the six hour work day likely yields better gains in productivity as the drop-off in same after six hours is well documented.

That said, actually implementing either on a large scale may prove challenging.

Just because its good policy doesn't make it easy to deliver.

After all we cant even seem to raise our paid vacation mandates to the global norm of 4 weeks minimum.
Click to expand...


We can't but the Finns probably can. Much as how their driver licensing standards are superios to ours. ;)

Anyway, in my industry, a shorter work day is less productive compared with a shorter work week.

My company is switching to a 4 day work week, hopefully within the next year. We're just trying to iron out some details. :)

For example, due to daylight and climate constraints, we may do a 5 day week during standard time perioids and a 4 day week during daylight savings time periods.

Trust me....4 day work week coming to Toronto soon.
 
French prime minister makes concession to pension protest

Edouard Philippe said he is ready to withdraw a proposal to raise the retirement age to 64 in a compromise with striking trade unions. The reform has triggered monthlong nationwide protests.

www.dw.com

French PM makes concession to pension protest – DW – 01/11/2020

Edouard Philippe said he is ready to withdraw a proposal to raise the retirement age to 64 in a compromise with striking trade unions. The reform has triggered monthlong nationwide protests.
www.dw.com www.dw.com
 
I had to revisit this: a 4 day work week already exists in Toronto!

Sunflower Kitchens in central Scarborough does a 4 day work week for at least some of their employees. They have been for at least two or three years now (if not longer).

Also, why is a 6hour work day any good? That cuts weekly hours down to 30 which is rather low, even for someone like me who rarely works 40 hours in a week.
A lot of people couldn't survive in this town on too low an income due to less hours at work.

I'm all about the 4 day work week of 35 hours. ?
 
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