In October 1998, negotiations commenced over a new collective agreement for Luxembourg's banking sector. The social partners have agreed that priority should be given to issues linked to the pay structure, continuing training and working time organisation.
Download article in original language : LU9811178NFR.DOC
In October 1998, negotiations commenced over a new collective agreement for Luxembourg's banking sector. The social partners have agreed that priority should be given to issues linked to the pay structure, continuing training and working time organisation.
The current collective agreement for the banking sector (LU9706113N) expires on 31 December 1998. Negotiations over a new agreement commenced on 20 October 1998 involving the Luxembourg Association of Banks and Bankers (Association des Banques et Banquiers du Luxembourg, ABBL ) and three trade unions - the Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (Onofhängege Gewerkschafts-Bond Lëtzebuerg, OGB-L), the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschafts-Bond, LCGB) and the Luxembourg Association of Bank Staffs (Association luxembourgeoise des employés de banque, ALEBA) .
At the start of the talks, the social partners agreed to prioritise arrangements linked to the pay structure, continuing training and the organisation of working time.
The previous collective agreement contained a number of specific provisions that were intended to benefit workers, but according to the unions, they have not produced the anticipated results. Accordingly, the negotiations were halted to allow the employers to consult the various working groups that had been set up to flesh out these improvements. LCGB insisted that talks could not resume until these problems were resolved, while OGB-L demanded the abolition of the performance-related pay system that had been introduced in 1993, and criticised ALEBA for not backing its call.
ALEBA has the highest membership of all unions in the banking sector, but it does not enjoy "nationally representative" status and therefore is unable to sign a collective agreement on its own; this has been the source of much resentment over a long period of time (LU9806166N).
The banking social partners were due to meet twice in November 1998.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Negotiations start on new banking agreement, article.
