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10 March, 2008
A near labour dispute by 2,100 Dutch workers at two of Europe’s biggest oil refineries was averted last week when ICEM affiliates FNV Bondgenoten and CNV Bedrijvenbond came to terms with Royal Dutch Shell. The accord, reached on 4 March, will now be brought before the workforces for approval.
The two-year agreement, which would become retroactive to 1 March at Shell’s Pernis oil refinery, as well as at the company’s Moerdijk refinery and chemicals operations, would give workers a 3.5% wage increase this year, and another 3.5% hike on 1 March 2009. It also grants one-half percent bonuses to workers each year of the agreement.
The major stumbling block in negotiations throughout February was Shell’s demand to buy back four ADV days. Those days were compensation for a cut in the work-week from 40 to 36 hours several years ago. Shell wanted the leave days back due to a shortage of personnel at the two refineries.
The unions had sought to allow workers to keep the leave days, or, seek a higher compensation for these days. A compromise on this difficult matter was mutually accepted.
The two unions engaged in joint membership consultations throughout in order to forge the agreement.