At the meeting on 6 October 2009 the CBCWE group discussed the possibility of developing a set of collective bargaining guidelines that would be relevant across the region and provide a framework for future work. The initial focus of debate was a set of guidelines agreed by ver.di’s energy sector collective bargaining committee.

Ver.di’s collective bargaining committee has agreed that further competition to undermine collective agreements should be resisted.

1. Collectively agreed weekly working hours should not be increased.

2. Pay structures should be maintained and developed in the interests of workers.

3. It is a collective bargaining priority to integrate subsidiary companies into existing company collective agreements.

4. When companies are restructured (as a result of outsourcing) collective agreement coverage should be maintained.

5. When new collective agreements are negotiated they should be at least at the level of the TV-V public sector agreement. The future level of the TV-V should be compared with private company agreements – EON, RWE, EnBW, Vattenfall.

6. Working time in the TV-V agreement covering Eastern Germany should be the same as in the West.

7. Starting pay (for example, after training) should only cover the first 12 months of employment (longer periods on starting pay are possible if they are on the basis of agreement on the taking on of apprentices and the starting pay is limited to new recruits).

8. Training should be developed and protected.

9. Agreements should be negotiated on the number of apprentices to take on as well as the number of apprentices to be employed.

10. There should be no splitting off of trainees from general developments in pay.

11. Agency work is to be reduced and limited. Insofar as agency work is introduced in company, it should be agreed on the basis of equal pay for equal work.

12. There will be a nationwide vote on pay claims. The energy negotiating committee will make a recommendation on pay claims in the energy sector to the union’s collective bargaining committee.

13. The duration of collective agreements (pay agreements and salary scales) should, as far as possible, be brought into line.

14. Action should be taken to prevent employers abandoning collective agreements.

It is intended draw up a recommendation for a standard bonus covering trade union members.

Ver.di’s Collective Bargaining Guidelines - Leitplanken DE