26 § Negotiation procedure

1.       Disputes concerning the interpretation of the collective agreement or terms of employment will be resolved in compliance with the negotiation procedure described below.

2.       Disputes shall primarily be resolved through negotiations at the workplace.

3.       In matters related to performing work and the related technical issues, employees must immediately turn to the management.

4.       Disputes concerning salaries and other terms and conditions of employment must be resolved locally between the employer or its representative and a shop steward or the employee.

5.       Disputes concerning the interpretation of the collective agreement shall be resolved between the employer or its representative and the shop steward, if a shop steward has been elected for the enterprise.

6.       Local negotiations should be initiated and carried out without undue delay. Negotiations must be initiated no later than within one week of the issuing of the negotiation proposal.

7.       A memorandum must be drawn up on local negotiations if either of the parties requests this. However, a memorandum need not be drawn up on an issue on which a memorandum of disputes, as referred to in paragraph 8, is compiled. The memorandum shall be prepared and signed in two copies, one for each party.

8.       If a dispute cannot be resolved in local negotiations within the enterprise, the matter can, by request of either local party, be referred to unions for resolving. In this case, the parties shall prepare in the first instance a memorandum of disputes, together, in which the cause of the dispute shall be recorded alongside the views, with justification provided, of both parties on the matter. The unions recommend that the template available on their websites be used in preparation of the memorandum of disputes. The memorandum shall be prepared in two copies, one for each union. The shop steward and employer’s representative sign the common memorandum. The parties concerned submit the memorandum to the unions. If one of the negotiating parties will not participate in the preparation of the common memorandum of disputes within reasonable time, the other party alone can refer the matter to the unions for resolving.

9.       Any disputes concerning the collective agreement, upon negotiation in compliance with this negotiation procedure by the unions without reaching agreement, can be submitted to the labour court for resolution.