Germany: the 170,000 employees in the printing industry get the extension of the framework collective agreement

Maintaining the 35-hour workweek.  Frank Wernecke, Verdi chief negotiator, said this agreement would not have been possible without the involvement of employees with the warning strikes organized in over 100 businesses.  The collective pay agreement provides for the payment of a first €280 extraordinary bonus (€140 for apprentices) in September 2011 followed by a 2% wage increase in August 2012.  Another €150 bonus (€75 for apprentices) will be paid in July 2013.  Signed for 33 months, the collective agreement will expire on December 31, 2013.  However, Verdi’s greatest victory is the extension of the framework collective agreement on working conditions (Manteltarifvertrag) under its current form until March 31, 2014.  Verdi says employers wanted to review this agreement and allow businesses to sign company agreement extending working time from 35 to 40 hours a week for the same salary.  In return, employees would have had employment guarantee through the duration of the agreement.  Verdi says this measure would have “significantly worsened working conditions.”  With the extension of the framework agreement, the 35-hour workweek is maintained.  Employers said the agreement was an “acceptable compromise”     taking account of the sector’s economic situation.  However, Wolfgang Pütz, chief negotiator for the employers’ organization, deplored the fact that Verdi’s attitude prevented “necessary structural adjustments.”