From June, employees in the Saarland steel industry will now receive 3.7 percent more money. For the months of April and May there is a one-off payment of 100 euros. From 2020, all employees will receive an additional tariff compensation of 1000 euros per year, which can be converted into optional days.
The district management center of IG Metall and employers – the association of Saarhütten – agreed on this result of negotiations in the night of 28 to 29 March. [The IG Metall steel collective bargaining commission has now approved the result.] This means that the Saarland steel industry has essentially taken over the tariff results for the northwest German steel industry in Düsseldorf in mid-March, as did the East German steel industry a few days ago.
Extra plus for apprentices
Trainees also benefit disproportionately from the collective bargaining agreement in Saarland: depending on the year of training, the training allowances will be increased by 60.- to 90.- per month from April, and by another 60.- to 90.- from June 2020 onwards.
Optional 1000 Euro or up to five days off
The new additional tariff compensation of 1000 euros per year will be paid out on 31st July. It rises with the future tariff increases. Employees can convert this allowance into days off. Up to five days off per year are possible. The actual number of days off is determined by the total number of applications per business. Many applications reduce the days off for the individual. If not all desired days off can be realized, these will be paid out.
“After graduating a year ago in the metal and electronics industry, we have achieved a breakthrough for more working time sovereignty in another important industry,” explains Jörg Köhlinger, negotiator and district manager of the IG Metall district of Mitte. “Employees here have demanded more self-determination, more relief and more freedom for the private, which is very important in the modern world of work.”
The compromise was made possible by the enormous pressure of the employees. After many warning strikes in other tariff districts had supported the demands of IG Metall, this could be avoided in Saarland. “But the employees would have been willing to do that, too,” emphasizes Köhlinger. “The employers know that.”
The new collective agreements for the Saarland steel industry can be terminated for the first time on May 31, 2021.