German trade union IG Metall and Danish developer Orsted have successfully concluded negotiations, reaching a collective agreement for Orsted's Norddeich hub. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the offshore wind industry, ending industrial action at the site.
Negotiations between Orsted and IG Metall began in January 2023, during which IG Metall called for five warning strikes. A breakthrough in negotiations was achieved on 10 April following an improved offer submitted by employers on 3 April.
IG Metall confirmed that union members approved the present result, allowing further elaborations for the company collective agreement to be addressed. Orsted's management, including Helle Sehested and Jörg Kubitza, expressed great satisfaction with the settlement.
Kubitza stated, “This is a milestone for the offshore wind power industry. For the first time, there will be a collective agreement for the employees of an offshore wind farm operator. The negotiations over the last few months have also shown how complex the issues were. We are therefore very happy that IG Metall, as a fair negotiating partner, has understood the challenges of our industry and that we have reached a solution that is viable for both sides.”
Sehested added, “This collective agreement has many advantages for the employees at the Norddeich site, such as a more transparent salary system including salary increases, shorter working hours, and higher bonuses. It was important for the company management to continue to be seen as a fair employer. However, we also want to have planning security and not endanger the economic viability of the location. With this negotiation result, we have achieved these goals.”
IG Metall's Emden Thomas Preuß emphasized the agreement's significance, stating, “This collective agreement is an important milestone for the wind industry; we can only congratulate the employees on this collective agreement result. Ultimately, the employees have shown with their five warning strikes that they want to work under collective bargaining conditions. We have now succeeded in this and we are satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations.”
Works council leaders Julian Pohl and Timo Röpkes also expressed satisfaction with the result, stating, “The works council welcomes the result as it represents a solid foundation for further driving forward the positive development of the Norddeich location. We are satisfied with the result and the solidarity of our colleagues during the warning strikes and are pleased about entering the collective bargaining landscape.”
