Unions of the metallurgical plant US Steel Košice achieve higher wages
A new amendment to the collective bargaining agreement was signed on Monday by representatives of the employer and trade unions of the US Steel Košice.
“I can confirm that on Monday morning we signed an agreement with the unions for a new amendment to our collective bargaining agreement. It offers a well-deserved and generous pay increase to all of our employees who have worked hard to improve our business over the past two years. We will be able to focus on solving the difficult challenges we face, ”said Jan Bacha, a spokesman for the Slovak American Metallurgical Company.
The signing was preceded by lengthy negotiations, and on June 22, trade unions went on strike at the enterprise. Initially, the issue of working hours per week was particularly controversial.
The agreement provides for an increase in the wage rate by an average of 60 euros per week, but not less than 50 euros per employee. In addition, from October 1, all union members will also receive at least 100 euros in a one-time payment, an average of 150 euros. Also, each employee of US Steel Košice will receive 100 euros for regeneration from the company's social fund.
In accordance with the agreement, if the employer, for objective production reasons, needs to extend the working hours in the selected centers by two hours per week, he will be able to do this for a maximum of three months.
Further extensions are subject to union approval, but for no more than three more months.
US Steel Košice is a steel mill located in the city of Kosice, Slovakia. It is one of the largest companies in Slovakia. Košice US Steel currently employs about 9,400 people.