Austria - Successful conclusion of bargaining round in metalworking - November 20, 2009

After five intensive negotiation rounds, the joint union negotiating team of the GMTN and GPA-DJP unions succeeded in signing a new collective agreement covering about 170,000 employees in the sector. The main point of controversy was the employers´ demand for far-reaching unpaid extension of working time flexibility in exchange for pay increases. The unions estimated this demand to result in individual income losses up to Euro 3,500 per year. Under pressure of many works council actions, the employers agreed to separate the discussion on changes in working time flexibility from the current bargaining round. Finally, main results were a 1.5% increase in collectively agreed minimum wages/salaries, with the new minimum at Euro 1,479, and a 1.45% increase in effectively paid wages/salaries. The start of the agreement is backdated 1 November 2009.

English: message EUCOBAN network European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF)

 

This article was published in the Collective Bargaining Newsletter, which presents up-to-date information on collective bargaining developments across Europe. 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 2009. All rights reserved. The ETUI is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. The ETUI is financially supported by the European Community. The European Community is not responsible for any use made of the information contained in this news section.