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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall GESAMTMETALL Federation of employers’ associations of the German metal and electrical engineering industries Indra Hadeler Director International Relations Collective bargaining in the German M+E-Industries
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall A.Key figures of Gesamtmetall B.The German Industrial Relations System C.Flexibilisation Options D.Future Challenges for our Industrial Relations Content 2
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Companies:23.500 with employees: - up to 99 72 % - up to 1.000 26 % - more than 1.000 2 % Employees:3.5 million Payroll:147 billion euros Turnover:770 billion euros Exports:456 billion euros Key figures 2010 3
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall A.Key figures of Gesamtmetall B.The German Industrial Relations System C.Flexibilisation Options D.Future Challenges for our Industrial Relations Content 4
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall The German industrial relations system 5 … is rather complex due to different levels of bargaining
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall CONSTITUTION LABOUR LAW UNION AGREEMENTS between Gesamtmetall and IG Metall - collective agreements - company agreements WORKS COUNCIL AGREEMENTS (NOT on money or working time!) Regulation of Working conditions 6 Employment Relationship INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS 1 2 3 4 A lower hierachie regulation can never reduce rights of the employee !
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 1.German Constitution (Art. 9 III GG) “The right to form associations to safeguard and improve working and economic conditions shall be guaranteed to every individual and to every occupation or profession.“ So called tariff autonomy of the social partners! 2.Collective Agreement Act (TVG) „Parties of a collective agreement are trade unions, several employers as well as employers´ associations.“ (Article 2 I TVG) Every company could conclude its own CA with a union! „Different agreements are only permitted if they are allowed by the collective agreement (so called opening clause) or if the modification is to the benefit of the employee.“ (§ 4 III TVG) The employer may only improve the employment conditions fixed by the CA! Legal background – key regulation 7
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 3.Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) „Salaries and other conditions of employment which are regulated or customarily regulated by collective agreement MAY NOT be covered by a WORKS AGREEMENT (agreement with the works council). This shall not apply if a collective agreement expressly permits the conclusion of additional works agreements.“ (§ 77 III BetrVG) NO works agreements about wages, working time, annual leave, christmas bonus etc. Legal background – key regulation 8
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 9 Right to Strike Two basic principles for any industrial action: 1.Proportionality-principle 2.Ultima-ratio-principle Any non-fixed strike requires a prior strike vote 75% support of union members Thus so called „Warning Strikes“ are very popular no legal definition Political strikes are not allowed ! No legal framework rules are determined by jurisprudence
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 10 Important rulings 2010: End of principle ”one company, one collective agreement” No longer priority of CA which covers the highest number of labour relations in the company (related to trade union membership). Negative impact on the guarantee of industrial peace during the runtime of collective agreements (e. g. Deutsche Bahn case). Increasing number of small unions and increased competition between unions (pilots, doctors, train driver). 2007: Sympathy strikes are no longer illegal but allowed unless they are obviously unsuitable, obviously not necessary or unreasonable. Employers ask for legal framework on industrial action!
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 11 Employers´association Trade union CA Employer Employee Employment Contract Membership Directly binding The binding effect of the CA is linked to a “double-membership” Industrial relations system
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Direct Impact Binding character of the CA on the individual labour contract If the employer has concluded the CA himself (company agreement) or is member in the negotiating employers´ association and the employee is member of the negotiating trade union. However, many of our companies apply our CAs also to non-organised employees in order to have the same conditions for the whole workforce. Indirect Impact Binding character of the CA on the individual labour contract if the individual labour contract refers to a collective agreement Impact of Collective Agreements 12
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Collective AgreementCompany Agreement EmployerEmployee Labour Contract EmployerEmployee Labour Contract Obligation ++ Company "one fits for all""tailor-made solution" EmployerEmployee Labour Contract EmployerEmployee Labour Contract Collective Agreement vs. Company Agreement 13
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Together we are strong! Uniform sector standards by collective agreements Obligation to keep industrial peace for the duration of the agreement Planning reliability Financial support in the case of collective action / strikes Company isn’t burdened with negotiations on labour relations (expertise, costs, infrastructure…) Many services including legal representation in labour court Advantages Blanket solutions with (still) few possibilities to adapt to the individual company situation Rather static solutions and negotiations mechanisms Higher wages due to the influence of high performers Disadvantages Why to be a member of Gesamtmetall? 14
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 15 Collective bargaining round 1.Salary increase (increase of the wage table as a percentage) permanent increase! 2.Single payment (lump-sum payment during the runtime of CA) e. g. conjuncture bonus; this instrument can be used to damp down the increase of the wage table 3.Flexible elements to adapt the CA on company level (in the framework of the CA = opening clause) Today, our collective agreements usually contain 3 elements:
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 16 Collective bargaining round Foundation for the IG Metall claims (in %) NO CONCRETE CLAIM
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 17 Collective bargaining round Results before the crisis: around 3 % (in % for a 12 months runtime of the CA)
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 18 Collective bargaining round Runtime of our collective agreements in Monaten 1991 1992 1994 1995 1997 1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 (in months) Average: 19,4 months
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall A.Key figures of Gesamtmetall B.The German Industrial Relations System C.Flexibilisation Options D.Future Challenges for our Industrial Relations Content 19
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Increase flexibility for our companies We have to find more balance between the possibility to adapt agreements to company needs and reliable standards for the sector. Key Options: Opening-clauses in collective agreements Framework agreements to be filled on plant level Key factors: Wages Working time Flexibilisation Options 20
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Main objectives: More flexibility for companies in all times of economic difficulties Companies get a better financial scope to invest and innovate, in return they promise job-security or even job creation. Success: Over 700 agreements on company level Examples: Extension of working time with or without wage compensation Lowering / abolishment of bonus payments, postponement of wage increases, deferments of payments Example 1: Framework Agreement 2004 21
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 22 Example 1: Framework Agreement 2004 Longer working-time is often the choice Extension of working time without wage compensation: 394 Extension of working time with wage compensation: 30 Extension of working time with part wage compensation: 12
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 01.03.0601.06.06 3,0 % 31.03.07 20062007 Duration 13 months Postponement possible over the duration Increase to 620 € Without agreement: 310 € Reduction to 0 € Example 2: Wage-Agreement 2006 23 Opening-clause Overall burden (by option 310 €): 3.1% Overall burden (by option 620 €): 3.9% Overall burden (by option 0 €): 2.4%
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 23456789101112123456789101112123 20112012 2010 1. Step: 11 months 2. Step: 12 months Whole runtime: 23 months Overall burden for the whole time: 1.8% Overall burden (by forward option): 2.0% Overall burden (by backward option): 1.6% 160€ 2,7 % wage increase Example 3: „Crisis-Agreement“ 2010 24 Opening-clause Part 1: Wages
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Example 3: „Crisis-Agreement“ 2010 Part 2: Job Security Main objective: More flexibility for companies in the crisis against job-security Content: Possibility for companies to differ from the standards of our collective agreement in the following fields: working time (reduction, free time compensation) wages (proportional reduction against working time) flexible distribution of working time (longer compensation periods) Special rules for short-time-work In case companies used these options, dismissals for operational reasons were not allowed! 25
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall short time working allowance Salary and working hours normal case short time work (law) Example 3: „Crisis-Agreement“ 2010 Christmas bonus & holiday pay 0 % 100 % Reduced working hours state + employers allowance short time work (crisis agreement) net pay Reduced payment short time working allowance Christmas bonus & holiday pay payment Reduced working hours Part 3: Short-time-work 26
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall 27 Short-time work - Payments Regular Wage Reduced wages Statutory payments 60 / 67 % of the difference Employer subsidy by CA* Regular working time Short-time work * Not in all Regions
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall A.Key figures of Gesamtmetall B.The German Industrial Relations System C.Flexibilisation Options D.Future Challenges for our Industrial Relations Content 28
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Future challenges 1.Keep new form of relationship to IG Metall after the crisis Next bargaining rounds without industrial action? 2.Increase flexibility of our collective agreements More “Opening-Clauses” to differ from selected parts of our agreements, depending on the individual company situation. More additional framework agreements allowing such deviations. 3.Flexible workforce No limitations to use temporary agency work 4. Legal framework for industrial action? 29
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18-10-2011Hadeler© Gesamtmetall Muchas gracias! Thank you for your attention! 30
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