It's that time again: negotiations on the Metalektro collective labor agreement will start at the end of this month. We have been busy lately collecting input from our members about the new collective labor agreement. In consultation with our National Board for the Metal Sector (LBM), we have converted the input of our members into the proposal letter of De Unie.
When do we negotiate?
We have planned four moments to discuss the renewal of the Metalektro collective labor agreement:
- Thursday 21 March 2024
- Tuesday, March 26, 2024
- Friday, April 12, 2024
- Maandag 22 opens 2024
During the previous collective labor agreement negotiations we “only” needed two sessions. We hope it goes smoothly this time too. The Metal and Electrical sector is generally in good shape, but we have seen that the energy-intensive part of the sector is doing less well.
Who negotiates?
's negotiating delegation De Unie This time it consists of Gertjan Tommel and Wicher van der Hoef. Gertjan Tommel is the employment conditions policy coordinator De Unie and first negotiator for the Metalektro. He has been working for over 7 years now De Unie. Wicher van der Hoef joined the team mid last year De Unie come to strengthen as a collective representative of interests. He is the second negotiator for Metalektro.
What is the stakes of De Unie for the new Metalektro collective labor agreement?
In December 2023, we collected our commitment from you and your colleagues. We grouped the responses into themes and discussed them with the LBM. Based on that discussion, a draft letter was created. After another round of input from the LBM, the letter was finalized. You can see the full list of proposals here view and download.
A safe place to work
De Unie is committed in a broad sense to making and keeping the metal and electrical sector attractive. To achieve this goal, a good income, good working conditions and career support for all (future) employees are important pillars. Our proposals are therefore about “a great place to work” and “a safe place to work”. De Unie wants to commit itself to projects that are about working safely, feeling safe and being safe. We want to make the sector and the companies a great place to work.
The greatest place to work
De Unie wants to continue to enable you to develop yourself and orient yourself towards the next step in your career. We also want you not to have to worry about your financial future. By, on the one hand, agreeing on adequate pay increases and internship allowances and a where-you-work budget and, on the other hand, by offering you the opportunity to receive career coaching and financial insight. This gives you the space to make choices that suit your stage of life. Whether it concerns caring for your (newborn/adopted) child or caring for a sick loved one. De Unie wants this to be done in partnership with your employer. Without financial worries and with commitment and loyalty to and from your employer. You can also make your choice to step aside or step back and transfer your knowledge and skills to a new generation with confidence, based on insight into your financial situation. A generation pact for everyone and an RVU for everyone who has worked for 45 years would suddenly be within reach. With the ultimate goal that De Metalektro is “the greatest place to work”.
What does the use of De Unie concretely now?
- De Unie is aiming for a wage increase of 4,6% over 2024. If 2025 is considered a full collective labor agreement year, the wage demand is 9,4%. For a change, these increases must be applied to all employees who fall under the Metalektro collective labor agreements;
- De Unie is committed to eliminating night work. The health and productivity gains are priceless. If, as a result of your incapacity for work, you are permanently unable to work night work and perform your job fully, you may not experience any negative financial consequences as a result;
- De Unie grants every employee a where-you-work budget with minimum arrangements laid down in the collective labor agreement for reimbursement of commuting costs, home work allowance and internet allowance. The compensation for costs must be at least the maximum fiscal allowance;
- If you, as an apprentice/student, orient yourself towards a job in the metal and electrical industry and you do an internship in the sector, you will earn according to De Unie an internship allowance that matches the ambition of the sector: Attractive and high-quality;
- In raising your child, will De Unie strengthening the partnership between parents by removing financial barriers to taking additional maternity leave and/or parental leave. Supplement the UWV reimbursement for additional maternity leave (maximum 70% of the maximum daily wage) to 100% of the actual salary. And share the costs of parental leave between your employer and your family;
- If you have been working in the sector for 45 years or more, you should be able to opt for the Early Retirement Scheme (RVU), regardless of your income. In addition, want De Unie that income thresholds for participation in the generation pact and RVU will be abolished.
- In addition to the existing projects of career coaching, financial fitness, development vouchers and developing a 5x better program for the Metalektro that stimulates a socially (even) safer workplace.
- De Unie is committed to making Liberation Day an annual holiday in all collective labor agreements in the Netherlands. This has now already been achieved in approximately 130 collective labor agreements. The Metalektro collective labor agreement needs something De Unie concerns collective labor agreement number 131, where this is regulated.
- After 45 years, incorporate the Higher Personnel Collective Labor Agreement into the basic collective labor agreement. There are official proposals to do this. The need is great because otherwise the HP collective labor agreement would not be declared generally binding. De Unie does not want an uneven playing field for our supporters among companies.
How do we keep you informed?
We will on our social media channels – Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram en YouTube – post regular updates about the negotiations or a theme that is discussed there.
Closing comments
We look forward to constructive negotiations with employers and our fellow unions. If you have a question or comment, you can email: metal@unie.nl. If you would like to speak to one of the negotiators, you can call Wicher van der Hoef on number 06-5252 2023 or Gertjan Tommel on number 06-5252 2034. Keep an eye on our communication channels. When we have reached an agreement with the employers, we will ask the members for their opinion on the agreement that we have reached with each other.
