On Wednesday 30 August following three waves of strike action and an unusual two-month negotiations hiatus, the insurance sector social partners compromised on a sector agreement that includes a two-stage 3.7% pay rise. Other provisions include introducing the right to a qualification, primarily when divisions and job positions become digitalized. The agreement also intends to open negotiations for an agreement on mobile working. Fears over digitalization in the insurance sector will hit jobs weighed heavily on the negotiations.
The digitalization threat. In March 2017 Christoph Meister, services union Verdi’s negotiator opened the discussions by declaring, “We believe companies have a moral obligation to bring their employees with them along the road towards the future by way of offering security.” He then asked for a jobs guarantee until 2020, a 4.5% pay rise, and significant commitments from its negotiation counterpart, the AGV insurance employers’ federation. Behind the words lies a gnawing fear by the sector’s uni
…Do you have information to share with us?