Negotiations on porters’ working conditions and wages are delayed. SIK’s chairman understands that the porters are impatient for a new collective agreement. He will not say when he expects an agreement to be reached.
The porters in Nuuk are getting impatient to reach an agreement on their working conditions and wages, and on that basis they will stop work for 59 minutes on June 26, the chairman of the porters’ association, Ludvig Larsen, told Sermitsiaq on Thursday.
However, the head of the dealers for the porters, SIK’s chairman, does not know this.
– We are not aware that the porters will stop work temporarily. But it is of course understandable that our members are impatient. The negotiations are still ongoing right now, says Jess G. Berthelsen to Sermitsiaq.
The porters’ collective agreement, which expired at the beginning of April, has not yet been renewed. SIK and Selvstyre negotiate as parties. But it could be better:
– The negotiations are difficult. But they are still going. If we can’t move forward, I will of course announce it publicly.
– When you look at the purchasing power of wages, it has fallen quite a bit since our last collective agreement. It must be covered. In addition, of course, they must also have a real salary increase, says Jess G. Berthelsen.
SIK: The porters’ demands are far too low
The chairman of the porters’ union also told Sermitsiaq on Thursday that if in the next four years they can raise their wages by an average of 8 percent, then they will be able to live with it.
But their dealer denies it.
– It’s far too little. When you look at how much the purchasing power of wages has fallen, it is far too little, says Jess G. Berthelsen.
What requirements do you have for the counterparty?
– I cannot comment on that right now, the negotiations are ongoing, he says.
The porters’ collective agreement has now expired, and when it was concluded a few years ago, wages rose by an average of 8 percent over four years.
“I can’t confirm that”
The parties, i.e. SIK and Selvstyret, have previously said, according to the chairman of the porters’ association, that they did not meet for very long when they last negotiated the porters’ relationship.
– According to the information we have received from SIK’s department, the dealers last met for five minutes. It shows how far they are from each other. Therefore, there is a need to take the next step, the employees are impatient to get a pay rise, says Ludvig Larsen.
The chairman of the trade union cannot confirm whether there was only one meeting of that duration.
– No, I cannot confirm that, because the negotiations are ongoing, and we also meet regularly and talk together, says Jess G. Berthelsen.
He will not comment on his expectations for when an agreement will be reached.
