After six days of heavy negotiation divided in 3 sessions of 2 days, the labor unions ABVO, the STrAF/ACOM/ACP, the NAPB and the WICSU and the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland reached a negotiation result with respect to the package of measures which will provide for responsible income developments, with this income development also an important step has been made to harmonize the labor conditions for all officials working at RCN.
Agreements have been made about pregnancy and maternity leave, jubilee, working hours, consignment and allowance for irregular working hours, so that there is a legal basis for these agreements, as also for the agreements made on the harmonization of the payments and transitional provisions.
Increase in wages
The generic increase in wages is 3.25 %. This will be applicable as of January 1st 2012. As of this date officials also accumulate a higher end of the year payment, up to $500. This will be paid out for the first time in December 2012.
The holiday allowance will increase with 0,5% as of June 1st 2012 to 7,5%. As of June 1st 2012 the holiday allowance will be calculated based on the salary increased by all payments of which also the accumulation of pension and premium payment is applied.
Uniform working hours
As a result of the negotiation it is determined that a new uniform arrangement for working hours will be introduced, which will include a basis to obligate officials to be available to exercise duty when being requested, after normal working hours. The obligation will be included in a schedule. The official who is obligated to be available will receive an availability payment of $1,50 per hour. If the official who has been called for duty is working, this is considered overwork.
Irregular working hours
As a result of the negotiation a new compensation regulation has been established for irregular working hours, based on which the public servant who has to work outside his/her normal working hours will receive an allowance for each hour, that this exceeds the normal working hours. Depending on the moment the services must be rendered, this allowance may amount to $2.25, $4.50 or $9.00 per hour.
Members deliberation
All parties concerned have concluded that a great result has been achieved with this agreement.
Parties agreed that December 10th, 2011 at the latest a deliberation with members will have to be concluded, so mid December 2011 the result can be converted into a formal agreement.