In the past year we have been very busy with the new collective labor agreement. The holidays are over and consultations with KLM have been resumed for a few weeks now. Consultation about the new pension scheme, the situation at E&M and the elaboration of a number of collective labor agreements. In this newsletter we want to tell you something about this. In addition, we also want to ask you something. But more about that later in this newsletter.
Pension
As you may know, we have been discussing the adjustment of the pension scheme with KLM for some time now. Pensions are complicated, but also extremely important. Everyone hopes to live a long time and stay healthy. The pension you accrue with KLM is an important pillar for your income later on.
The new ‘Future Pensions Act’ (WTP) sets out the agreements that employers, employees and the government made with each other in 2019 in the Pension Agreement. This pension agreement has now led to new legislation. Trade unions have been discussing the details of this new law with KLM for a long time. Initially through a technical working group.
In recent months, the results of this working group have been further discussed in the consultation on employment conditions. And recently, trade unions and KLM have achieved a result on this. This result must also be presented to other stakeholders, such as the association of pensioners, in the context of the so-called ‘right to be heard’. And as it should be, the union members are then allowed to speak out.
Of course, you will receive more information about this later. And if you are already curious, you can find general information on this website. This website has been created in collaboration with the 3 trade union federations in the Netherlands.
Measures at E&M
We were recently informed by KLM about the intended measures at E&M, such as the relocation/outsourcing of work and the temporary cessation of work for third parties. According to KLM, this is necessary in order to be able to use the capacity that will be freed up to move towards a stable KLM operation and to reduce non-performance costs.
Recruiting and training new technical staff is difficult. That is why KLM must be and remain an attractive employer for technicians. This is necessary to maintain the capacity of technicians in a difficult labor market. Otherwise, the operation and/or the return of E&M will come under (further) pressure.
In the coming period, it will first be up to the participation council and will issue advice on the proposed measures. We will of course monitor this and also look at the possible effects for support departments. If you have any questions or comments about the situation at E&M, please feel free to contact us.
Elaboration of collective labor agreements
In recent weeks, KLM has regularly informed us about the details of the collective labor agreements.
One of the things we talked about a lot is the definition of ‘strenuous professions’. This definition is part of the agreement to be able and allowed to combine the subsidised part-time scheme (80/90/100) and the RVU scheme. We think it is important that objective criteria are established for determining what is or is not a strenuous profession. Everyone now agrees on that. Unfortunately, it has turned out that this cannot be ‘organized’ in the short term. In the run-up to a final decision on this, KLM itself has drawn up a provisional list of positions. We do not think that is ‘optimal’, but we have tolerated it. More clarity is expected around this summer.
We are now concerned about the lack of definitive collective labor agreement texts. There has been no current collective labor agreement text at KLM for some time. We actually think that is ‘unacceptable’ and will again urge KLM to make the new collective labor agreement texts available as soon as possible. As far as we are concerned, the readability of the collective labor agreement is also a point of attention. After all, the collective labor agreement is not only a legal document, but also an important part of your employment contract with KLM.
Frameworks
De Unie is a contemporary and modern trade union. With our own sound and our own course, we represent the interests of our members. For us, executives are an important connection with our members. They are our ‘eyes and ears’ in the workplace and have an important ‘sounding board function’. Not only when it comes to the collective labor agreement, but also in all other subjects.
The Union has an active and committed framework group. Due to a number of changes in the management group and the growth in membership, we are looking for new executives. Do you think trade union work is important and would you like to be part of it? Please contact us. We can tell you more about this – of course without obligation. It is good to know that KLM trade union work also facilitates.
Sincerely,
Wicher van der Hoef and Huug Brinkers
Advocates
