In one of the largest sectors in the Netherlands, after months of actions, an agreement was reached last night on a new collective labor agreement. Until April 2024, employees in the metal and technology sector will receive an average of 3.2 percent in wages per year.
Nearly 320,000 employees fall under the collective labor agreement for Metal & Technology. It is striking that the largest employers’ organization, the Metaalunie, has not put its signature to the agreement. About a third of the staff in the sector works for employers that are affiliated with the Metaalunie.
The Metaalunie says that consultations still have to be held with the supporters and that the organization was therefore unable to participate in the agreement yesterday. The FNV union does not understand this. “They suddenly drop out against all the agreements made,” says negotiator Jacqie van Stigt. “It is disrespectful to all hard-working technical professionals in this sector. They now have to wait and see whether the Metaalunie will also sign this collective labor agreement in the near future.”
Inflation
In the agreement it has been agreed that young people will receive an extra wage increase of at least 5 percent. This measure should help to solve the staff shortages in the sector.
FNV negotiator Van Stigt says that the employers’ wage offer is considerably higher than at the start of the negotiations five months ago. “It is clear that we cannot curb the current high inflation with this. This is an important task for the cabinet. As social partners, you cannot solve this only at the collective labor agreement tables.”
Union members will vote on the deal in the coming weeks. Van Stigt will keep the option open for new actions if the Metaalunie does not agree to the agreement.
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