No strike at ArcelorMittal, wage increase agreed for workers

SARAJevo, (Patria) - The Assembly of the "ArcelorMittal" Zenica company union, which rejected the management's offer for a new collective agreement at its session on Friday evening, met again today and accepted the latest offer, thus cancelling the general strike announced for tomorrow in that company, Fena was confirmed by Union President Zuhdija Kapetanović.

The union had initially requested a 20 percent increase in hourly wages, but the company offered only an eight percent wage increase, to be calculated retroactively from June 1st this year, a further three percent increase from June 1st, 2022, and the payment of a 13th salary for this year.

Workers were to be paid 1,000 KM in December, along with their November salary, as a '13th salary'. The following month, the arrears from the wage difference since June 1st this year were also to be paid.

The union rejected the offer on Friday with 46 votes against and one vote in favour, but a new agreement was reached after yesterday's meeting with Director Nikhil Mehta.

- Colleagues voted for the new proposal, according to which the hourly wage will be increased from 3.24 to 3.60 KM, also retroactively from June 1st this year. Wages will be further increased by five percent from January 1st next year, and 1,000 KM will be paid with the November salary, as a '13th salary' for this year. The difference in wages from June, in accordance with the new hourly rate, will also be paid then. The agreement will be signed for two years - announces Kapetanović.

He expresses satisfaction that an agreement has been reached and that the general strike, for which all preparations had been made, will not take place. During previous negotiations, the union also agreed to reduce the distance from work for transport allowance eligibility from five to three kilometers and to increase the night work allowance from 50 to 60 percent.

In the new collective agreement, the payment of holiday pay was also agreed upon, in the amount of 50 percent of the salary of all employees at AMZ, which, after the increase, will be around 550 KM. Holiday pay will be paid in May next year, and the average salary from April 2022 will be used for its calculation.