Minimum services are, during an event or occurrence (for example, a
workers' strike
Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike in British English, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to Working class, work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Str ...
), those services considered essential that continue to be provided to avoid shortages, lack of production, administrative chaos, etc. The determination of minimum services in crucial services is sometimes a limitation of the
right to strike
Strike action, also called labor strike, labour strike in British English, or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became c ...
, which matches the corresponding governmental authority in each State.
They are quantified as a percentage of normal day-to-day services.
Essential minimum services and abusive minimum services
There may be disagreements about what is considered an essential service and what is not.
Trade unions
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
often criticize the establishment of minimum services that they consider abusive, because they believe they are too high (similar or even higher than those of a normal day) or applied to non-essential services. They consider that abusive minimum services cause the strike to cease to be noticed, thus distorting the right to strike.
For example, in Spain the CNT considers that the only minimum services are legal and that they require emergency and health care and people with disabilities, and therefore require the minimum services in transport and other sectors.
In Europe
In
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and
Austria
Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
, statutory civil servants (30% of the civil service) do not have the right to strike, "doesn't shock anyone". In
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
and
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
there is a minimum service for
Rush hour
A rush hour (American English, British English) or peak hour (Australian English, Indian English) is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice e ...
s.
In Spain
The basic regulations are contained in Royal Decree-Law 17/1977, of March 4, on labor relations; ; in Royal Legislative Decree 2/2015, of October 23, approving the consolidated text of the Workers' Statute Law, in the specific rule issued before each strike call, and in administrative and judicial precedents.
In France
In 1980, a minimum service clause was suggested to ensure the safety of children in the care of private monitors.
In 1986, 31% of companies wanted the post office to organize a minimum service in the event of a strike.
In 1992, Air France sought to establish a guaranteed minimum service to standardize the quality of service.
See also
*
ssential services
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minimum services
Labour law
Welfare state
Social policy
Strikes (protest)
Economic policy
Syndicalism