The employers Tuinzaden offer a wage increase of 4,5%. Complete the survey about this wage offer!
The third round of negotiations for the collective labor agreement for Garden Seed Companies took place on Monday, November 20, 2023. The employers in the Garden Seed Sector (Plantum) presented a new wage proposal of 4,5%. We consider this new wage proposal to be insufficient. It's still not close to what we want. Firstly, we want compensation for the inflation of the past year, then we want the expected inflation for 2024 to be compensated and ultimately we want an improvement in purchasing power of 1%. Only time will tell whether we will achieve all this. For us, what is especially important for now is what you think of the employers' wage proposal.
Opinion
The members have received an invitation to complete the short survey about the wage offer of employers in the Garden Seed sector. This way we can share our views on the wage offer anonymously with employers.
Why such a difference in wage development?
The difference between our wage demand (7,2%) and the employer's proposal (3,7%) after the consultation on November 14 was considerable. This difference was mainly because employers wanted to compensate for either past inflation or 2024 inflation, but not both. This position seemed remarkable to us. Nevertheless, we continued negotiations on November 20.
Employers' mandate for 4,5%
The employers indicated on November 20 that they have a mandate to offer a maximum of 4,5% wage increase. For the other unions, the lower limit for a new collective labor agreement in terms of wages remains 6,5%. Despite the steps taken by both parties, the difference remains significant. Moreover, there is little compensation in other areas.
What can we possibly make agreements about?
- The employers are prepared to increase the travel allowance to € 0,23 per kilometer and to increase the maximum mileage to 35 kilometers.
- Service anniversaries in accordance with the tax rules, proposal to follow.
- Employers are prepared to increase the minimum wage in the collective labor agreement, whereby wage scale A is merged with wage scale B. The minimum wage will then be € 14,46.
- In the open scale system, the assessment-dependent increase is increased from 1,75% to 2%.
- Remuneration of BBL students.
- Right to Career Advice once every 1 years.
- Extend the agreement on the participation law.
What do employers not yet want to make agreements about?
- Improvement of the 80/80/100 scheme for the lower scales with a lot of physical strain.
- Individual training budget.
- Supplementation of informal care, maternity leave and special leave.
- Improving the position of temporary workers.
- Additional schemes to improve sustainable employability.
What now?
We have made a little progress. But given the current wage offer, this is not sufficient to reach a new collective labor agreement now. Our goal remains to conclude a new collective labor agreement on January 1, 2024.
To achieve this, the employers have decided to temporarily suspend negotiations so that they can consult internally and with their supporters. The next consultation is scheduled for Wednesday, December 20, 2023. Then we will hopefully get more clarity about the possibility of reaching a new collective labor agreement. During this consultation we also share the results of the short survey with employers.
Contact
Do you have any questions in the meantime? Then you can contact us by sending an email via gerard.van.der.lit@unie.nl or by calling 06-5252 2010.
