On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, we spoke again with VGZ about the new collective labor agreement. In terms of content, we mainly discussed a few proposals from VGZ. We have not made any agreements yet.
Progress CLA subjects
We have only re-discussed topics in an effort to reach agreement among themselves. This included the topics: Healthy working, Work pressure and Collective salary increase.
Healthy working
This topic is still at the stage where we are exchanging ideas. VGZ has issued a survey among employees, the conclusion is that there is support for making a collective labor agreement.
Workload
It is important to each of the parties that the workload can be properly charted. We still have agreement on the correct instrument to measure the workload. The subject is proposed by De Unie discussed because many members have long indicated that the workload at VGZ is too high in their opinion.
Collective salary increase
The parties are still far from each other on this subject. De Unie has indicated that VGZ is in a good financial position, much better than the companies that are not open due to the lockdowns. VGZ emphasizes that the company is in a less good financial position than the other major health insurers.
New topics
VGZ has introduced a number of new topics. These topics were discussed for the first time on 25 May 2021. We are still exchanging ideas about this, for most subjects there are no concrete proposals yet. It concerns the following subjects:
- Diversity Day
- Funeral leave
- Bicycle scheme
- Leave savings
- Financial advice
Diversity Day
VGZ is now closed on Good Friday and all employees have this day off. VGZ is considering making this day a normal working day, in return they want to introduce a Diversity Day. You can take this Diversity Day off on a religious holiday of your choice. De Unie is not in favor of this, such an exchange has already been carried out at other companies and it led to great dissatisfaction among the employees who actually lost a day off.
Funeral leave
VGZ wants to express in the collective labor agreement that employees who experience a miscarriage must be given the time to process this loss. Obviously this is a subject we have a positive attitude towards. However, it is important to ensure that bereavement leave due to other circumstances must also be possible.
Bicycle scheme
VGZ wants to investigate whether it is possible to enable employees to lease an e-bike in order to offer an alternative to commuting. This is a positive initiative. However, we also want to talk about the travel expenses scheme. VGZ has indicated that in the situation of hybrid works they want to replace the travel expenses scheme with a kilometer allowance per kilometer traveled instead of the current travel expenses scheme.
Leave savings
It is legally possible to save up to a maximum of 100 weeks of leave. VGZ wants to use the extension to agree on a leave savings scheme. De Unie is in favor of strengthening the autonomy of employees. I have asked your employer to work out a proposal for a subsequent meeting.
Financial advice
VGZ indicates that they have positive experiences with the current financial advisory scheme whereby employees aged 63 or older are offered financial advice. Your employer therefore wants to offer it to a larger target group. However, there is still an age restriction for cost reasons. This scheme was drawn up at the time on the proposal of De Unie, we are positive about broadening the target group.
Your opinion
I would like to know your opinion about these ideas of VGZ in order to give a good follow-up to the collective labor agreement consultation. That's why I'm asking you to here complete the survey. This is possible until June 6, 2021.
Contact
Do you have any questions regarding this message or do you have information that you are using De Unie want to share? Then contact us. You can reach me by sending an email to: inge.de.vries@unie.nl or app me on: 06-5252 2091.
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