Belgium: FGTB and CGSBL reject cross-industry agreement 2011-2012

Refusal.  After consulting its members, the FGTB refused to sign the draft cross-industry agreement 2011-2012 the social partners concluded in mid-January (see our dispatch No.  110040).  On Thursday, February 3rd, after the general workers’ union rejected the text, everyone was getting ready to bury the draft agreement.  For the socialist union, the 0.3% margin for pay negotiations provided for in the agreement is way too small and is an obstacle to the freedom of pay bargaining in the different sectors.  This social partners determined this margin in light of the economic forecasts of the Central Economic Council (see our dispatch No.  100792).  In addition, the union rejects the choices made for the award for the “wellbeing” budget.  Destined for social benefits, this budget was allocated, in the agreement,  €300M for 2011-2012, when the government made €500M available.
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xt, everyone was getting ready to bury the draft agreement. For the socialist union, the 0.3% margin for pay negotiations provided for in the agreement is way too small and is an obstacle to the freedom of pay bargaining in the different sectors. This social partners determined this margin in light of the economic forecasts of the Central Economic Council (see our dispatch No. 100792). In addition, the union rejects the choices made for the award for the “wellbeing” budget. Destined for so

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