Quel avenir pour les salariés ? Suite à l’annonce de l’acquisition d’Intelsat SA par SES SA, le 30 avril 2024, l’OGBL, syndicat majoritaire chez SES et seul syndicat représenté chez Intelsat, ne cache pas ses inquiétudes. Pour rappel, le groupe de satellite basé au Luxembourg a traversé ces dernières années une période assez agitée avec plusieurs restructurations, petites et grandes, dont un dernier grand programme de restructuration en 2020 (« Simplify and Amplify » ; S&A) qui a abouti in extremis à la conclusion d’un plan de maintien dans l’emploi (PME) en août 2020, renouvelé en mai 2022 et à la conclusion d’un troisième PME en décembre 2023. Les négociations relatives à ces PME — qui prévoient d’une part des mesures de redéploiement interne vers les postes vacants (actuels et futurs) et d’autre part la mise en place d’instruments publics tels que la préretraite-ajustement, les aides temporaires au réemploi et les aides à l’embauche — ont permis à l’époque et aujourd’hui encore de sauver une cinquantaine de salariés. Cela n’a cependant pas empêché SES d’ouvrir une filiale à Bucarest et de développer rapidement ses activités en Roumanie à partir de 2020. Ces activités auraient très bien pu être localisées au Luxembourg, sachant qu’à Betzdorf ne manquent ni la place, ni le personnel. Par conséquent, l’OGBL s’interroge sur le risque d’éventuelles délocalisations d’autres activités de ce nouveau groupe et sur d’éventuelles réductions de personnel à la fois chez SES et Intelsat. Il n’est pas rare qu’une acquisition entraîne des dépenses importantes et que la direction tente de les équilibrer par des mesures de réduction et d’économies. Il est évident que l’OGBL rejette catégoriquement toute forme de délocalisations, d’autant plus lorsqu’elles sont financées par le contribuable luxembourgeois. Pour rappel, les plans de maintien dans l’emploi (avec la mise en place de mesures financées par l’Etat) ont permis à SES de se réorganiser et de réaliser des économies importantes. L’OGBL demande ainsi au Premier ministre Luc Frieden de veiller à ce que les intérêts des salariés soient préservés lors de la mise en œuvre de cette acquisition et que le maintien des emplois soit sa priorité. Alors que ce dernier se réjouit de cette annonce et déclare qu’il s’agit là d’une excellente nouvelle pour l’économie luxembourgeoise, il ne faudrait pas qu’il oublie les 650 salariés chez SES ainsi que les 60 salariés chez Intelsat. Des garanties doivent être exigées afin qu’il n’y ait pas de réduction de personnel. L’État, en tant qu’actionnaire important est après tout représenté au Conseil d’administration de SES (33,3% des droits de vote). Il est également déplorable que les représentants du personnel de SES et d’Intelsat n’aient jamais été consultés (comme l’exige pourtant la loi) et que le dialogue social n’ait pas été respecté par les dirigeants respectifs. Ainsi, il est de la plus haute importance que les représentants des salariés soient dorénavant impliqués dans le processus de mise en œuvre de cette acquisition. Pour toutes ces raisons, l’OGBL demande au gouvernement de jouer un rôle actif dans l’implémentation de cette acquisition et qu’il plaide en faveur de la sauvegarde des emplois au Luxembourg. Communiqué par le syndicat Services et Energie de l’OGBL, le 30 avril 2024
Consolidation of benefits and introduction of new ones The OGBL and the management of BCD Travel recently signed a first collective agreement for the 35 employees of this company specialized in business travel. This is also the very first collective agreement in the Luxembourg travel agency sector! The agreement, which covers a three-year period from November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2026, includes among other things a 1.5% linear increase in all salaries, retroactive to November 1, 2023 a gradual increase in the value of meal vouchers, with the face value rising from €9.40 to €11.40 an annual net bonus for each child in school: creche and preschool (€37.50), elementary school (€50), secondary school (€87.50), higher education (€112.50), university (€137.50). a mobility allowance: 30 euros net per year (payable in September each year) a marriage bonus: 200 euros gross a birth bonus: 125 euros gross a vacation allowance of 200 euros net in 2024 Previously acquired benefits, such as the 13th month, function and flexibility bonuses, as well as seniority leave (one extra day for every five years of service) are all included in the new collective agreement. The OGBL welcomes this good agreement, which would not have been possible without the participation of the staff delegation at all stages of the negotiations. It should also be noted that the negotiations with management took place in a calm working environment and in a spirit of constructive social dialogue. Press release of the OGBL Services and Energy Syndicate, December 22, 2023
Renewal of the collective bargaining agreement at Luxfuel S.A. On May 17, 2023, the OGBL and the LCGB signed an agreement with Luxfuel S.A. management on the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement for the company’s staff. Luxfuel S.A employs 36 people and provides aircraft refuelling services at Luxembourg’s Findel airport. The agreement covers a maximum period of three years. It takes retroactive effect from January 1, 2023, and covers the period until the end of the current concession, at the latest by December 31, 2025. The new collective bargaining agreement includes the following improvements: linear wage increases: +1.5% hourly wage on April 1, 2023; +1.5% on April 1, 2024 and +1.5% on April 1, 2025 an increase in additional seniority-related leave: 1 additional day after 5 years’ seniority a 2nd additional day after 10 years’ service a 3rd additional day after 15 years’ service a 4th additional day after 20 years’ seniority a 5th additional day for employees with 25 years’ seniority. (The former collective bargaining agreement provided for: 1 additional day from 10 years’ seniority, a 2nd additional day from 20 years’ seniority and a 3rd additional day from 30 years’ seniority). All other provisions of the collective bargaining agreement remain unchanged. Communicated by the OGBL and the LCGB, June 2, 2023
What does the future hold for the employees of the Luxembourg-based satellite group? Following the announcement by SES management on March 29, 2023 of a possible merger between SES and Intelsat, OGBL, the company’s majority union, is concerned about the future of the Luxembourg satellite group’s employees. Rumors of a possible merger have been circulating for several months. SES management seems to have tried to prepare the ground by embarking on a major new reorganization process. In February, SES management informed the staff delegations of the various entities that make up SES (not only in Luxembourg, but also abroad, notably in Germany and the Netherlands) of a future internal reorganization. In March, SES CEO Steve Collar officially informed the 650 employees in Luxembourg that SES is undergoing a profound transformation to become a “market-driven organization” that is “fit for purpose”. Over the past few weeks, employees – mainly middle and senior managers – have gradually been offered new positions, as well as amicable departures. As a reminder, the Luxembourg-based satellite group has gone through a rather turbulent period in recent years, with several small and large reorganizations, including a last major restructuring program in 2020 (“Simplify and Amplify”; S&A), which culminated in the in extremis conclusion of a job protection plan (PME) in August 2020 and the renewal of this PME in 2022 (it will expire on August 31, 2023). Approximately fifty employees were saved at the time and are still being saved thanks to the negotiation of this PME, which provides for internal redeployment to current and future vacancies, as well as the introduction of government instruments such as early retirement due to corporate restructuring, temporary reemployment assistance and recruitment aid. As a result, government involvement in this restructuring process is not negligible. However, this has not prevented SES from opening a subsidiary in Bucharest in 2020 and rapidly expanding its activities in Romania, even though the state is financially supporting measures to safeguard jobs in Luxembourg. It should also be noted that the activities carried out in Romania could very well have been located in Luxembourg, as there is no shortage of space or personnel in Betzdorf. The confirmation by SES of ongoing merger negotiations with Intelsat SA brings back bad memories and the OGBL wonders whether jobs will be maintained in Luxembourg, given that mergers generally lead to job cuts. The OGBL therefore calls on the Minister of Communications and Media, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, to assume his responsibilities and ensure that the interests of employees are defended during the negotiations and the conclusion of this potential merger. The French State is a major shareholder in SES with 33.3% of the voting rights on the Board of Directors. Guarantees must therefore be sought to ensure that there will be no job losses and that SES will retain a majority stake in the new entity resulting from the merger. Any agreement motivated solely by tax considerations, cost-cutting, downsizing and the weakening of the Luxembourg site must be rejected. Finally, there is the question of employee representation on the Board of Directors of SES SA. The OGBL stresses that it is extremely regrettable that SES has so far refused to accept employee representatives as voting members of the SES SA Board of Directors, as repeatedly requested by the OGBL. This would allow employees to have a say in the company’s decisions and would reassure them that they are represented in this decision-making body as required by law. Currently, employee representatives only sit on SES Astra’s Board of Directors, which was the decision-making body until 2001. Over time, however, the Group’s structure has evolved enormously and important decisions are now taken and discussed within SES SA. Employee representation on the Board of Directors of SES SA is therefore essential. In any case, the OGBL calls on the government to play an active role in the negotiation of this merger and to stand up for the protection of jobs in Luxembourg. Press release of the Services and Energy Syndicate of the OGBL April 3, 2023
Renewal of the collective bargaining agreement for Encevo Group employees On February 21, 2023, the OGBL and LCGB syndicates signed an agreement in principle with Encevo management on the renewal of the collective agreement for the group’s employees. The entire collective agreement will run for 18 months, from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. In addition to the employees of Creos, Enovos, Leo and Encevo, the employees of the new company Teseos have also been included in the Group’s collective bargaining agreement. The agreement includes the following improvements A guaranteed bonus of 1,500 euros for all employees in 2023. An additional performance-related bonus, possibly of 1,000 euros. A structural revaluation of the first ten years for lower career levels. Full coverage of the additional cost of supplementary health insurance for a period of three years (January 2023 to December 2025). Incorporation of the results of the working groups set up under the previous agreement. All other existing benefits will of course be maintained. The Encevo Group, headquartered in Esch-sur-Alzette, currently employs approximately 1,100 people. Communicated by the OGBL and the LCGB, February 23rd, 2023
Renewal of the collective bargaining agreement for BorgWarner Luxembourg employees Following the acquisition of Delphi Technologies by the American automotive supplier BorgWarner in 2020, which maintained the company’s activities in the Bascharage industrial zone, negotiations for the establishment of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), based on the former CBA of Delphi Technologies had been initiated by the OGBL and the staff delegation. These negotiations recently resulted in an agreement between the management of BorgWarner’s two Luxembourg-based entities (Borgwarner Luxembourg Automotive Systems and Borgwarner Luxembourg Operations) and the OGBL, the only union represented in the staff delegation. The first CBA since the takeover of BorgWarner was recently concluded for a period of two and a half years, from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024. The following benefits were negotiated Introduction of meal vouchers with a face value of 10.80 euros (employee contribution of 2.80 euros for employees under CBA) Increase in the basic vacation allowance from 550 to 600 euros Increase in the variable part of the vacation allowance to 179 euros Granting of an additional day off for all employees Update and adaptation of the existing salary scale Finally, it should be noted that all other benefits existing in the previous Delphi Technologies CBA have of course been maintained. Press release by the OGBL Services and Energy Syndicate, February 7, 2023