Unions and AVEBE reach agreement on plan to reduce labour costs

The unions and AVEBE yesterday reached agreement on a package of measures aimed at coping with the recession. The talks specifically addressed ways of reducing labour costs.

The current CLA, which ran until 1 January 2010, has been renegotiated and replaced with a new CLA which runs from 1 September 2009 to 1 January 2011.

The new CLA contains an agreement to the effect that a wage freeze will remain in place at least until 1 August 2010. Following that date pay rises will only be possible if there has been a structural improvement in the conditions.

Clear agreements have also been made on how employees can be deployed more flexibly over the locations, in different positions and different departments. Employees can also be deployed on the basis of annual hours, so that they can work fewer weekly hours in some periods and more in others.

During the period mentioned above, all employees will be working for 8 days more without pay.

The unions and AVEBE have also reached agreement on the accelerated phasing out of the old balance of holiday entitlement.

The agreed package will lead to substantial savings in labour costs, especially in relation to temporary employees. The cost savings in other areas and the postponement of a large proportion of the investments will remain in effect.