Belgium - Two-year metalworking contracts set in place - June 20, 2011

Three unions, MWB-FGTB/ABVV-Metaal, ACV-CSC Metea, and CGSLB/ACLVB, reached accord over two-year collective agreements covering 150,000 workers in metal manufacturing, including aeronautical, automotive, and metal construction, as well as in the iron and steel industry. The agreements did not come without discord, however. Contentious bargaining over early retirements, unemployment benefits, contract and temporary workers’ rights, and layoff notices led to issuance of a strike notice that was to take effect on 24 June. But wage terms were reached in late May between the unions and employers’ federation Agoria in metal manufacturing, and agreement came on 6 June between the unions and the iron and steel grouping GSU. The unions won extension of early retirement provisions and longer periods of notice before layoffs can take effect. The indexation of wages from cross-industry negotiations agreed early in 2011 with the government will take hold in metalworking. Wage rises of 0.3% higher than inflation will go into effect on 1 July 2011 and 1 July 2012. In addition, an economic “green” bonus of €250 will be awarded, intended for purchase of environmental friendly products or services. The contracts will run until 30 June 2013.

English: http://www.icem.org/en/78-ICEM-InBrief/4512-Two-Year-Metalworking ...

 

This article was published in the Collective Bargaining Newsletter. It aims to facilitate information exchange between trade unions and to support the work of ETUC's collective bargaining committee. For more information, please contact the editor Maarten van Klaveren, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) M.vanKlaveren@uva.nl. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net. © ETUI aisbl, Brussels 2011.