The negotiations for a new collective agreement for employees in the industry are entering the crucial phase this weekend. CO-industry represents the workers, while the employers are represented by Dansk Industri. CO-industry is a collaboration between nine trade unions, including Dansk Metal, 3F, and HK Privat. Leading the negotiations for the workers are Claus Jensen, the chairman of Dansk Metal, and Mads Andersen, the chairman of 3F Industri. On the other side of the table are Lars Sandahl Sørensen, the CEO of Dansk Industri, and Kim Graugaard, the vice president.
The Importance of the Industrial Agreement
The agreement in the industrial sector covers contracts for approximately 6,000 companies and 230,000 employees. Often referred to as the breakthrough agreement, it sets the economic framework for the rest of the negotiations in the private sector. The industry plays a crucial role in Danish exports, making it the first sector to reach an agreement for private sector employees. Other agreements in the private sector are influenced by the industrial sector, ensuring that wage increases do not exceed those in the industrial sector. Once the agreement in the industrial sector is in place, negotiations in other key sectors such as construction, transport, and trade and office can begin. In total, private agreements need to be negotiated for around 850,000 employees, impacting even more workers in terms of wages and working conditions.
Flexibility Tops the Wishlist
As the parties in the industrial sector prepare for final negotiations this weekend, a deal is highly likely, according to DR’s business analyst, Katrine Overgaard Eilsø. Collective agreements cover aspects such as wages, pensions, parental leave, and other benefits, with workers this time expressing a strong desire for increased flexibility in their workplaces. This includes having a say in shift schedules, arranging work hours to balance family life, and having the option to reduce working hours. Flexibility is crucial for employees to meet personal obligations such as caring for children or elderly parents.
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