Ver.di collective bargaining conference in the energy sector

(11 February 2010) Workers are facing a series of collective bargaining rounds in the German energy sector. The most important one concerns the negotiations for the collective agreement in the public sector which includes also the municipal energy companies (Stadtwerke). The employers side has argued for a ZERO wage round for 2 years. Workers do not agree and have organized “warning strikes”. Also the major energy companies are arguing that there is no money for pay increases despite the large profits which are made. Delegates reported that several companies seek concessions of the workers to ensure their high profit margins. Energy companies continue the process of outsourcing and seek collective agreements with lower pay and conditions, pushing some workers into poverty wages. The union fights the attempt of employers to leave collective agreements.

EPSU’s Jan Willem Goudriaan addressed the conference bringing a message of solidarity and support. “Workers and especially public service workers are made to pay for a crisis caused by greedy and out of control bankers, and by governments that failed to regulate and control them, and rather privatized public banks. Public service workers will not stand idle when their pay and jobs are slashed.” He further explained the work of EPSU and affiliated unions with regard to collective bargaining and in the energy sector in particular. “Many European workers in the energy sector share the same employer. In a European market we need a reflex that what happens to workers in other countries is a common concern. Coordination and joint action to realize our aims are a necessity for Europe’s unions.” Internal market policies, a possible next liberalization package, social dialogue and the results of collective bargaining were issues considered.

Other speakers included Erhard Ott, Verdi Executive, who gave an overview of positions of the employer’s side during the negotiations and how employers are refusing to consider pay increases and fail to improve protection of elder workers or to address precarious work. The employers do not want to guarantee work places for apprentices, despite qualifications and evident need to employ skilled workers. Sven Bergelin, Verdi and President of the EPSU Standing Committee Utilities explained the links between European and national energy policy and how that impacts on collective agreements. “Our joint bargaining guidelines are a response to the break up of the value chain in the utilities.” Gabriele Sterkel, Verdi, discussed with participants performance related pay. Verdi does not agree with this. However it is confronted more and more with this and she presented a study on performance related pay and how collective agreements can be used to ensure such schemes do not harm workers.

Close to 300 Verdi representatives of collective bargaining committees of different companies such as Vattenfall, Eon, RWE, EnbW, municipal companies and others participated, 9-10 February 2010, Hannover, Germany