21.06.2005

One should say: “It's a long time to Tipperary and to a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the employees of International School of Luxembourg too”. The trade unions OGB_L and LCGB first met the representatives of the Board of Governors and the school director in May 2003 to renew the CBA. The last meeting took place on May 26th 2005 and the new CBA was signed on June 15th.

In the meantime, the social elections took place and since then, the OGB_L was in charge of the negotiations and made extended demands.

The result is quite presentable. Some 100 employees will benefit retroactively to January 1st 2005 from the following salary increases. These vary and depend on their period of employment, with the lowest steps getting more than the highest.

- 1.1.1005 to 31.08.2005
- Professional staff: 2,56% to 3,92%
- School nurse: 2,6% to 3,52%
- Administrative staff: 0,97% to 2,47%
- Teacher assistants: 2,62% to 3,15%
- 1.9.2005 to 31.8.2006
- Professional staff: 1,43 to 2,73%
- School nurse: 1,46% to 2,35%
- Administrative staff: 0,87% to 2,19%
- Teacher assistants: 2,62% to 3,15%
- 1.9.2006 to 31.8.2007
- Professional staff: 1,96 to 3,22%
- School nurse: 2% to 2,85%
- Administrative staff: 0,86% to 2,14%
- Teacher assistants: 1,48% to 1,99%

- The new CBA was adjusted to all legal prescriptions.
- The work hours as well as the working time at school were fixed.
- The leave time - varying from 50 to 68 days - was set for the duration of the agreement, 1.1.2005 to 31.8.2007.
- Time off for blood donors was introduced.
- The amount of the lunch vouchers was raised.
- The stipend scale for extra-curricular activities was adjusted.
- The financial allocation for professional development was fixed to 1,8% of the total gross payroll costs.
- The sabbatical leave for up to one year at half-salary was saved.
- An article treating sexual and moral harassment in the workplace was added.
- A procedure in relation to the shutting down of a class or a service was negotiated.
- The old CBA was extended to 31.12.2004.

The negotiations took place in a hard but fair climate.

Reported by SEW/OGBL and LCGB
Luxembourg, June 16th 2005