6.2.2013
Yesterday, at the seat of Hrvatski Telekom, representatives of the employer and unions signed a new Collective Agreement (CA), which will be in force until June 30, 2014.
On behalf of the company new Collective Agreement was signed by Ivica Mudrinić, President and CEO of HT and Irena Jolić Board member and Chief Human Resources Officer, and on behalf of unions Juko Cikojević, president of the Croatian Telecommunications Union (HST) and Ivan Majdak Vice president of the Republic Union of Workers of Croatia (RSRH).
The negotiating process, which began in November last year, despite disagreements in certain matters, was constructive aiming to realize prerequisites for the realization of business objectives in complex economic conditions without materially reducing the substantial rights of workers.
In parallel with the achievement of an agreement on a new Collective Agreement that guarantees social peace in the coming year and a half, during which there will be no redundancy, for certain categories of employees, special severance packages increased by 50 percent over severance fixed by collective agreement have been agreed. Based on the offer by the end of June this year, 403 employees will leave the company.
Although the new CA reflects the continuity of high level of workers' rights, it has been rationalized in some items, so vacation bonus was reduced from HRK 6,000 to 3,000 gross. The majority of other rights remained unchanged, such as Christmas bonus of HRK 2,500, Easter bonus, gifts for children and jubilee award. Severance packages remain among the highest in the country, in the average amount of HRK 360,000 gross cost per employee. Among other things, this CA reflects the importance the company gives to evaluating employee performance, and it provides a 2 percent increase in the budget for salaries in accordance with the manager's assessment in 2013.
"We are pleased with the signed Collective Agreement which again demonstrates that HT is a responsible company that provides high material rights of employees and highly competitive working conditions in times of crisis. With the signing of the Collective Agreement, we have shown that social dialogue is not only necessary but also possible, and to the benefit of all parties involved, "said Irena Jolić, Board member and Chief Human Resources Officer.
"I think that with the new Collective Agreement, in these tough times, we have fulfilled the main goal - to save jobs. I hope that future negotiations will be conducted in a more favorable economic situation, which would be reflected in an increase of rights of workers, „said during the signing Juko Cikojević, president of the Croatian Telecommunications Union.
"I think that today we signed a Collective Agreement that, in spite of the difficult economic situation, guarantees to all of us a high level of rights of workers, and I sincerely hope that we have met their expectations. Now, when we are released from the pressure of redundancy this year, it is up to all of us to show that the security of our jobs is the biggest stimulus for better and more devoted work in the interest of us as employees and of the company, " said Ivan Majdak Vice president of the Republic Union of Workers of Croatia Republic Union.