Although the current Collective Labor Agreement for Health Insurers will run until 1 October 2022, the social partners started negotiations in April for a new Collective Labor Agreement for Health Insurers. In this message I, Emanuel Geurts (advocacy representative), inform you about the negotiation round on June 13, 2022.
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Negotiations
In the third round, we started working on a number of themes, namely employability, work pressure, sustainability, duration and salary. Employers' proposals were also discussed and the question of how we view (the nature of) the collective labor agreement itself.
Character of the collective labor agreement
The collective labor agreement for health insurers is an industry collective labor agreement that is applied by five health insurers. We agree that the exclusion of wage competition and the pension scheme are the most important pillars under the collective labor agreement. In addition, there are subjects that we want to arrange jointly for all companies and employees, such as leave. Where trade unions want to regulate more in the collective labor agreement, employers want to regulate many subjects at company level with their works council (OR). Next time we will talk further about how we can arrive at a common vision and how it can be made clearer for employees what is arranged where and by whom.
Proposals to employers
Employers have only submitted a number of technical/legal proposals for this collective labor agreement round. For example, about adapting the article on ancillary activities to upcoming legislation. Other proposals concern clarifying the text about the annual day off on 5 May and the annual hours system, including long-term care leave in the collective labor agreement and anticipating a possible (unjustified) increase in the burden of the unemployment insurance premium in relation to the employment conditions choice system. Employers provide us with concrete texts for this.
Employability
The members have again asked us to include the RVU scheme in the collective labor agreement. Employers are against this. In the coming time, social partners will discuss what it means for employees to make the transition from a knowledge-oriented to a more skills and role-based work organization.
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Workload
We agree that structural overtime is undesirable and we want to make an agreement about this. We have also made proposals on vitality, training and development. Employers come up with a proposal as to whether and how these matters can be included in the collective labor agreement and how they can draw more attention to the instruments already present in their organizations.
Sustainability
De Unie has tabled a number of proposals related to sustainability. Employers do not participate in a climate budget of € 1.500 per employee per year. The mobility schemes at health insurers are changing. It has been agreed to conduct a study into more sustainable solutions during the term of the collective labor agreement. A sustainable investment and pension policy will be discussed with the SBZ pension fund.
Wage and term
Trade unions have already made clear in their letter of commitment at the start of the negotiations what they are asking for a wage increase. In front of De Unie this is 5,2% for a one-year collective labor agreement. Employers have still not made a wage offer in the third round. They need further coordination for that. It is known, however, that they opt for a one-year collective labor agreement. Employers have promised us to come up with a wage offer in the next round.
Continuation
All proposals for the new collective labor agreement have now been discussed. Employers in particular have the necessary homework for the summer period. We will have the fourth round of negotiations on August 30, 2022. In that case, the employers will in any case provide a wage offer and texts with the technical amendment proposals they have submitted.
Contact
If you have any questions about this newsletter and/or you want to speak to me, you can reach me on 06-5252 2074 or emanuel.geurts@unie.nl† If you have an individual case or need (legal) advice, please contact our Service Center via sc@unie.nl or by telephone on 0345-851 963. We are happy to help you!
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