The second collective bargaining day was on 16 March 2022. We discussed three major topics that day: flexible working hours, work pressure and the wage section. The discussion about work pressure has not yet led to concrete agreements. Tata Steel has improved its previous proposal with regard to flexible working hours. At the end of the meeting, Tata Steel made us a wage offer. That offer is utterly disappointing.
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Improving wages an important topic
Ordered before De Unie a structural increase in wages and wage scales is an important subject in its efforts. Inflation is high and you haven't had a structural wage increase since May 2020. That's why . has De Unie – just like the other unions – put a firm wage request on the table.
Your employer does not seem sensitive to our argument as to why we think you deserve a substantial salary increase. In Tata's offer, the main focus seems to be on the increased costs for Tata of raw materials and the like. But your employer is also making record profits. We therefore find Tata Steel's argument for a frugal wage offer weak.
Your employer's offer entails a structural salary increase of €60 per month and an additional 1,3%, as of May 1, 2022.
That's nowhere near inflation. Your employer is not prepared to compensate for your loss of purchasing power. An incomprehensible view at a time when it is difficult to recruit new people and given the fact that you and your colleagues slowed down with the wage increases last year.
It will come as no surprise that De Unie finds the wage offer from Tata Steel completely unacceptable.
What now?
The next negotiating day is March 30, 2022. I expect this to be a difficult negotiating day. We will see whether Tata Steel will realize in the near future that its employees are the most important link in the proper functioning of the company. This is not clear from the collective labor agreement negotiations to date.
That insight is crucial for a smooth course of further negotiations.
Questions or remarks?
Do you have any questions or comments? Please contact the representative Hans Korver. He can be reached at hans.korver@unie.nl and on 06-5252 2073.
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