Danish collective agreements should apply to work on the Fehmarn link all the way to the German coast.
That is the position of Danske Byggefag and the German trade unions IG BAU and IG Metall, which have reached an agreement on how collective agreements should regulate work on the cross-border tunnel project.
The agreement covers work carried out from the Danish side on or below the water all the way to the German coast. According to the unions, this should apply regardless of which country the employees are employed in. German rules should only take over from the tunnel portal on Fehmarn.
- Now we must ensure that our collective agreements are respected all the way to the German border. With this agreement, we are creating a clear division of responsibilities, says Claus von Elling of Danske Byggefag.
The agreement has been concluded solely between the trade unions. Neither FLC, Femern A/S nor employers’ organisations are parties to it, which means the agreement does not in itself make Danish collective agreements binding on companies working on the project.
Under the agreement, the Danish unions will be responsible for monitoring collective agreement conditions on the Danish section, while disputes relating to this area should, where possible, be handled in Denmark. A joint committee will monitor the agreement and coordinate efforts across the border.
