Before the elections: a gift from the government to the public sector: a slightly higher salary, a longer vacation

The Confederation of Trade Unions, the Solidarumas and Sandrauga unions, the United Republican Union and the National Union of Public Officials (NPPSS) negotiated the terms of next year’s collective agreement with the Government and individual ministries for six months.

The parties concluded negotiations in mid-September and drafted an agreement. According to him, the base salary of politicians, civil servants, judges, civil servants and employees of budgetary and military institutions should increase by one euro to 177 euros, although this figure is scheduled to be revised in December after the Ministry of Finance publishes the updated macroeconomic forecasts.

Following the increase in the base salary, an additional amount of € 21.4 million should be provided for next year’s salaries and allowances for the relevant professions. euros.

The parties agreed, among other things, that union members would receive an additional two days of paid annual leave and study, or up to 5 working days to improve their health.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (SADM) estimates that this should amount to about 4,962 million. from the salary fund.

The agreement, once signed by the representatives of the five unions and the Ministry of Social Affairs authorized by the Government, should enter into force in January next year.

He wants to sign the agreement before the Seimas elections

“We wanted a higher base amount, not a single increase in euros, but the government argued that during COVID-19, the salaries of doctors, teachers, social workers and the police were increased.” This has led to an increase in wages for certain categories of groups. “15 minutes Kristina Krupavičienė, president of the Solidarumas union, commented.

Even after signing the agreement, union members, he said, will feel little pay growth.

The increase is not significant.

“The salary ratios of our union-affiliated employees are five, six, seven. We do not have members with odds of 20 or 22 as members of the Seimas, judges, etc. This would increase the salary per person by 10 or 15 euros even if the basic amount is increased by two euros, from which taxes are deducted and the increase is not significant ”, taught K. Krupavičienė.

That is why, according to the president, Solidaridad prioritized vacation conditions and opportunities to improve grades.

“Employees will be able to choose study leave, but if they don’t need to study, they can choose five days to recover. That was not the case before, ”emphasized K. Krupavičienė.

He hoped that a collective agreement would be signed with the current government.

“It just came to our knowledge then. It has been difficult here because all the provisions have to be agreed between the unions and with the Government, but we agree, we are waiting for the Government to announce the signature. We hope to sign before the Seimas elections. , not after the Seimas elections. You know, you have to count money and expenses, and until a new government is formed, time is running out and we can’t be left with nothing, “said K. Krupavičienė.

Promises to negotiate more next year

Inga Ruginienė, head of the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, evaluated the negotiations with the government on next year’s national collective agreement as successful, although, according to her, she wanted the official salary to grow significantly more.

“Given that we have set ourselves the objective of improving the social guarantees of union members, we can evaluate the negotiations as really successful, we have really achieved what we wanted. However, the COVID-19 situation has changed our legs. We had also set a goal of increasing the size of the base. Not increasing the full base size does not go away because we have inflation. It was agreed to increase it to cover inflation and at least provide such compensation to employees. ” 15 minutes commented I.Ruginienė.

The next year, due to an increase in the base salary of public sector employees, he promised to do more.

Vladimir Banel, president of NPPSS, said the agreement reached on additional vacation days and study time was seen as a step forward. According to his representative, the official euro salary is not so relevant for civil servants.

“We have a charter, a separate payment system, we don’t depend as much on base size today as we used to be. We have the 1000 program, it’s important for us to have adequate funding for it, and that’s what we’re working on. Base size is important. , but to be able to adjust it effectively, large amounts of money are needed, ”said V. Banelis.

Today we are not as dependent as before on the size of the base.

Says negotiations have dragged on

It is true, he emphasized that after some time the basic amount of the official salary will be revised: “If the forecasts are favorable, it is possible to revise a higher side than a lower one.”

In general, negotiations with the government, according to V. Banelis, have taken a little longer this year.

“This year, both the negotiation process and the end of the negotiations have moved significantly. And the consequences of COVID-19 … And we only received the financial forecasts from the Ministry of Finance, if I am not mistaken, on September 14 Until then, there was no way to speak at all, “he said.

After receiving a mandate from the Government, the Ministry of Social Affairs intends to approve the national collective agreement with the unions in the next two weeks, before 17 October.