2024-06-28 16:18:18
Nearly 600,000 workers within the chemical business will obtain increased wages. Union members will obtain a bonus.
Within the collective bargaining negotiations for the German chemical business, IG BCE and employers agreed on an extra day without work for union members solely. For the primary time, unique advantages for union members have been enshrined in a big collective settlement alongside the final wage will increase of 6.85 %. Nonetheless, they need to notify their employer of their membership and obtain a second day without work on membership anniversaries.
The intention of the settlement is to extend collective bargaining protection, either side introduced on Thursday. Strictly talking, collective bargaining agreements usually solely apply to union members. Nonetheless, employers normally apply them to all workers, which has often led to anger over “free riders” who take pleasure in benefits with out paying membership charges to the unions.
Ultimately, a easy resolution was negotiated for the member bonus, the advantages of that are instantly obvious to individuals and which doesn’t place an excessive amount of pressure on firms, mentioned IG BCE negotiator Oliver Heinrich. “That is opening a brand new chapter in collective bargaining coverage.” He expressed the hope that firms wouldn’t now be on the lookout for particular options.
Within the ongoing negotiations, the employers had additionally burdened that they didn’t wish to divide the workforce. “It is very important us that we don’t contact the precept of ‘equal pay for equal work’,” mentioned Matthias Bürk, negotiator for the Federal Employers’ Affiliation of the Chemical Business (BAVC). The bonus is an indication of appreciation and is meant to reward the voluntary work of the union members of their free time.
The negotiations, during which the employers solely submitted a proposal within the third nationwide spherical, had been beneath time stress. The peace obligation would have expired on June 30. After that, warning strikes would have been attainable. So protests exterior of working hours at a number of giant chemical websites with 1000’s of contributors remained. The events additionally continued their arbitration settlement, which was terminated on June 30 and continues to function with out exterior arbitrators.
The union’s demand for seven % more cash was nearly met with 6.85 % in two levels, however was unfold over a interval of 20 months. The primary stage of two % will take impact on September 1, whereas the second step will come into pressure on April 1, 2025. This may be postponed by as much as three months in particular person firms for financial causes.