Report of the Collective Labor Agreement Negotiations, Day 3

October 23, 2024

On Monday, October 21, the third day of the collective labor agreement negotiations took place. The following topics were on the agenda:

Salary (including profit-sharing scheme), duration, reduction of working hours (32-hour workweek and 80/90/100 scheme)
Pay for Growth
Shiftwork
Student loan debt
Travel expense

Dutch version click here.

In-depth Discussion

After the first two days, in which the parties primarily explained their positions, the aim of this day was to try to find common ground on the important issues. The structural salary increase is, of course, the most important topic for reaching a collective agreement. However, it turned out to be difficult to take the first steps toward getting closer to each other.

We would like to provide further details on two topics.

First: The Structural Salary Increase
De Unie has split its salary demand. For 2025, we are asking for a 5% increase, a percentage composed of the expected inflation plus 1% for purchasing power improvement.

But we have also looked back because, since 2021, the salary development of ING employees has lagged behind. De Unie has identified a gap of 11% compared to the average structural salary increase in the Netherlands. We have engaged in discussions with ING's management to address De Unie's condition for inflation compensation in this collective labor agreement.

However, ING's management does not share our view. ING has already concluded a collective agreement and, for the time being, seems unwilling to look back as De Unie suggests.

There was also some criticism of our calculation. De Unie calculated a 4% structural salary increase. ING's management pointed out that some employees have received a higher percentage salary increase. Furthermore, the salary scales have been raised, so that almost everyone (with perhaps a few exceptions) has at least a 1% increase. Even if De Unie were to agree with this reasoning, we still believe there is a 9% gap for the past.

We were unable to bridge this difference in opinion on October 21.

The Second Topic: The 32-hour Workweek
One of the other unions has proposed reducing the working hours of ING employees by 4 hours. Everyone would work 4 hours less while maintaining their current salary. Your average workload would not decrease; the assumption is that by working smarter, everyone could save at least 4 hours of working time. ING's management has asked De Unie what we think of this proposal. We would like to discuss this with our members. If you want to participate in this discussion, please attend De Unie's member meeting.

This member meeting will take place on Monday, October 28 at 4:00 PM in room CDR-A.00.015.

You are warmly invited to join us in Amsterdam. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can participate online. On the day of the meeting, the meeting link will be available at https://www.unie.nl/ing.

Not All Topics Were Covered

We didn't get to all the topics. For example, the 80/90/100 scheme has been postponed to the next meeting. At De Unie's suggestion, this will be combined with discussions about the RVU (early retirement scheme). The current RVU exemption scheme expires at the end of 2025. Nationally, discussions are ongoing about the adjustment and continuation of the RVU exemption. De Unie would like to discuss whether and how the RVU can remain available at ING in the future.

This also applies to the detailed discussion of the shift work arrangement, which we will discuss in the meeting on November 4.

Next Collective Labor Agreement Negotiation: November 4

The fourth day of the collective labor agreement negotiations will take place on Monday, November 4. The following topics will be on the agenda:

Salary, including profit sharing
Pay for Growth
Working hours: 80/90/100 scheme and reduction of collective working hours
Shiftwork
RVU (early retirement scheme)
Variable compensation

The topic of variable compensation will be on the agenda for the first time. Do you have any questions about this, or do you have information you would like to share with De Unie? Please get in touch by sending an email to: inge.de.vries@unie.nl.