Finally, after a long time, we have resumed consultations with the employer about a new collective labor agreement. The employer had postponed the previously planned negotiations a number of times due to the latest announced reorganization at Signify.
Explanation of the latest reorganization
At the start of the consultation, the employer provided a brief explanation of the reasons and consequences of the major reorganization announced last week. This explanation struck us as “Mustard after the meal”. And still not transparent enough with regard to the consequences for the employees who lose their jobs, but also for those who still keep their jobs. In short, we do not receive timely but very limited information about matters that are in the interest of our members at Signify.
Unchanged wage offer Signify
Despite the fact that we repeatedly inform the employer that Signify must make a substantially better wage offer than 1,5% (based on 18 months) in order to continue negotiating with us for a new collective labor agreement, Signify has informed us that they cannot offer more then 2 x 1% next year.
Extension CSP
We also learned that Signify has decided, in consultation with the COR (Central Works Council), to extend the current CSP (Central Social Plan), which runs until the end of 2023, for another year. This while the employer had so far refused our proposal, in our collective labor agreement proposals, to extend the CSP for a number of years. A social plan is an agreement between the employer and the trade unions. The employer may not simply change this with another party (COR).
Disappointment again!
We have informed the employer that we are unfortunately very disappointed in the way in which we have been informed so far and also in our involvement in the developments at Signify. In this way we cannot adequately inform our members and represent their interests properly.
breach of trust
There has been a breach of trust on our side, as joint trade unions, due to the reasons mentioned above. We do not feel taken seriously by Signify as a consultation partner. If Signify wants us to consult each other constructively again, then Signify must work very quickly to restore our trust. As far as we are concerned, this can be done through an external mediator. We have made this proposal to the employer and it is now their turn!
Final offer
Since we are unfortunately unable to make any progress in negotiations with the employer due to their inflexible attitude, we have decided, together with the other trade unions, to submit a joint final offer to Signify. As we agreed in our last membership meeting. We will probably send the final offer to the employer during the course of next week. Our members will also receive a copy of this.
This is a brief representation of our last consultation with the employer and we hope that Signify will consult itself and quickly accept our final offer and work quickly to restore our trust so that we can discuss constructively with each other again.
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Contact
If you have any questions or comments, you can contact the representative Suat Koetloe via Suat.Koetloe@unie.nl or on 06-5252 2061.