End-of-career part- time work. “We have also succeeded in extending up to 2009 the agreement on end-of-career part-time work”, confirmed to e-europnews a ver.di spokeswoman. This formula allows senior 3x8 shift workers on physically extenuating tasks to retire early without substantial financial loss. Workers over 55 can decide to work, for instance, 5 years full time for a reduced wage and retire 5 years earlier while continuing to receive their wages. “Generally speaking, seniors choosing this formula get on average 80% of their wages”, pointed out the ver.di spokeswoman. This formula is encouraged by a federal labour law on end-of-career part-time work. Since 1996, the federal agency for employment covers 20% of a part-time senior worker’s wages if the firm replaces him by a person without a job or an apprentice. However, this formula is now raising much controversy inasmuch as it is used by firms restructuring to reduce their workforce. The law is due to expire end 2009, but the ver.di union is seeking to achieve its prolongation.
e” and prevent the introduction of escape clauses and wage variables, declared ver.di. However the union had demanded at the beginning of negotiations a 6, 5% wage increase. End of May, it had toned down its claims, asking for a two-stage increase of 3, 8% and then 2, 5%. On the resumption of negotiations on June 5, nearly 100 000 employees from over 100 companies had taken part in warning strikes in Bavaria, North Rhine Westphalia and Bade-Württemberg in support of the ver.di’s claims.
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