Netherlands: agreement in principle in heavy metal

The metal employers’ organization, FME-CWM (3,000 members), affiliated with the Federation of Netherlands Industries and Employers (VNO-NCW), signed an agreement in principle with the trade unions for the next collective agreement, signed for the next two years.  The Federation of Netherlands Unions and Allies (FNV Bondgenoten), the Federation of Christian Unions (CNV), the De Unie executives’ union and the VHP2 union secured a structural 4.25% wage increase.  Slightly under the 4.45% negotiated on April 13th in the light metal industry (see our dispatch No.  110257).  However, the increase amounts to 4.75% when taking account of the bonus employers accepted to pay in return for the reorganization of the early retirement scheme on January 1, 2012, for all employees born after 1950.  A €400,000 financial effort was agreed to in order to carry out “loopbaanchecks” (career evaluations).  Other major point for unions, which have been militating for the removal of the lower scales for youth pay (concerning people aged 15-23): it will be cancelled in the metal industry after the age of 22, allowing young people to be paid better.  This measure, along with the agreed effort in terms of continuing education, is going to “restore trust in the sector and the prospects it may offer” according to Wim van der Welle, negotiator for the De Unie union.  Employers also promised to work only with temporary work agencies registered with the Foundation for Compliance with Employment Standards (Stichting Normering Arbeid, SNA) and certified since January 2007 by the NEN-440 label developed by this structure.