Report on periodic consultations and pension developments.
Periodic consultation NN Group
On March 15, 2023 De Unie consulted with NN Group. In these periodic consultations we discuss current affairs at NN Group, the details of collective labor agreements and issues raised by members of trade unions. On March 15 (and in conversations afterwards) we discussed the following topics, among others.
Rating increases
The annual assessment round at NN has been carried out. The overall overview is as follows:
- 14% of employees have a percentage lower than the norm. However, about 1/3 of these employees received a rating increase that was necessary to reach the maximum scale salary.
- 44% received a rating increase equal to the standard percentage.
- 14% received a rating increase higher than the standard percentage.
- 23% of the employees did not receive an increase because they are already paid at or above the maximum scale salary.
In 3% of the cases the assessment was not satisfactory. The remaining 2% could not be assessed.
There was a lot of discussion about the assessment increase during the collective labor agreement negotiations. NN has room in the system to accelerate the growth of employees who are on a salary that is too low compared to their team and their performance. In practice, this space was not used or not used much. NN has assured us that the department budgets are not decisive for the rating increase, but the performance and position of the employees. We would like to hear whether members have recognized this in this assessment round.
High
The NN collective labor agreement runs until 31 December 2023. We have requested that preparations for the collective labor agreement negotiations be started in good time. The current collective labor agreement was drawn up in a different time, before inflation started to rise sharply. The collective labor agreement is an agreement, the members of De Unie have agreed, the signature on behalf of De Unie has been set. We can't change that now. But I think it would be wise to address that inflation for 2022 has reached 10%. Usually, salaries are adjusted for inflation through the collective bargaining increase in the following year. But the collective labor agreement increase at NN is 3%. This leaves a significant gap that I expect the members of De Unie will seek compensation in any way.
Reorganisations
During the periodic consultation, we were updated on various reorganisations that NN is implementing. In some reorganisations there is a reduction of jobs, in other reorganisations the emphasis is on expanding or changing functions. Do you personally have to deal with the (possible) consequences of a reorganization? Then contact the Service Center of De Unie. My colleagues are happy to help you with legal questions. You can contact the Service Center by sending an e-mail to: sc@unie.nl or by phone on: 0345 851 963.
Pilot Strategic personnel planning
One of the agreements in the collective labor agreement is to carry out a pilot in which we investigate how employees can be better enabled to develop within the NN organisation. There are many vacancies within the organization while work is declining in other parts. It would be nice if the vacancies could be filled by internal flow. Then you solve the problem on both sides. This pilot has not yet started. Obviously, this needs to be addressed quickly.
Retirement
The following only concerns employees who have accrued pension with PFI. As indicated in the previous member's report, consultations have been held between trade unions, NN-Group and PFI. The reason for this was the request from the PFI board to the social partners to help investigate whether a higher indexation than 2022% was possible for active people over the year 3.
In the meantime, on March 14, 2023, the PFI Board has taken a final decision on the indexation for the year 2022. This decision includes:
- A regular allowance of 3% as of 1 July 2022 and also a regular allowance of 3% as of 1 March 2023 in accordance with the collective labor agreement wage increase at NN for NN employees as well as inactive participants for whom the allowance criterion is based on this wage index.
- A regular supplement of 3% as of 1 January 2023 for inactive participants for whom the supplement criterion is based on the derived price inflation capped at 3%.
- An additional surcharge of 5% as of 1 January 2023 for the latter group.
The pensions of the inactive are therefore indexed by 8% over the year 2022. Those of the active by 3%. Unfortunately, it has therefore not been possible to align the indexation of active persons with the indexation of inactive persons. A long process preceded this decision.
At the end of 2022, the social partners (employer and trade unions) were informed by the PFI board of the intention to grant an additional supplement to the price index-based pension indexation for the inactive. Concerns have been expressed by social partners about the imbalance this decision would lead to.
Subsequently, the PFI board implemented the decision and asked the social partners to look for a solution to the problem that had arisen. This was taken up at the end of 2022, employers, trade unions and the board of PFI have investigated the possibilities for this. The parties have established that the only way is to retroactively change the wage index to the price index. This is a decision that De Unie cannot take independently. This requires a decision by the members. However, we have not come that far because the PFI board has decided not to change the pension agreement at this time.
Conclusion
It is of course regrettable that it has not been possible to increase the allowance for active persons. And that an unbalanced indexation decision has been taken. The board of a pension fund operates independently, although they must remain within the framework of the law. The supervision of pension fund management is formally exercised by the government and by the accountability body. That is why we regularly call on members to apply if there are vacancies in the accountability body.
We would like to emphasize once again that this concerns the accrued pension at PFI. We have now also spoken with the board of the CDC pension fund. They have taken a normal indexation decision.
Contact
Do you have any questions in response to this message, or do you have information that you would like to provide for a subsequent periodic consultation? Please contact the representative Inge de Vries by e-mail inge.de.vries@unie.nl
