Bayer MaterialScience reduces work week

The Bayer subgroup MaterialScience (www.bayermaterialscience.com) is reacting to the effects of the financial crisis, but without resorting to short-time working for the time being. Instead, an opening clause in the general collective agreement for the chemical industry is to be invoked, according to a solution worked out jointly by the Central Works Council, the IG BCE and company management on Friday. This allows a temporary lowering in worktime of 6.7 percent (for example from 37.5 hours to 35 hours per week) with corresponding reductions in salaries for non-managerial employees. The measures will take effect on February 9, 2009, and will initially apply for nine months. Irrespective of this, the collectively agreed pay rise of 3.3 percent scheduled for April 2009 will be implemented as planned.

Cuts for managerial employees as well
Managerial employees of Bayer MaterialScience will also be affected by the cuts, which in their case will include temporary postponement of pay rises. “Our goal is to master this difficult situation through our own efforts. All employees should make an appropriate contribution,” said Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, Labor Director at Bayer MaterialScience AG.

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Time freed up to be used for continuing education measures
“All in all, this solution based on solidarity, reached jointly with company management, is the best option for both the employees and the company,” said Thomas de Win, Chairman of the Central Works Council of Bayer AG. In addition, employees working in plants not operating to capacity are to be given further training as part of a continuing education drive.

Employees will be given further details in the coming week at employee information events. Similar measures have already been taken or are planned for the Bayer MaterialScience sites abroad. Bayer MaterialScience has a global workforce of around 15,200 people, of whom some 5,500 work in Germany.

Bayer MaterialScience AG, Leverkusen, Germany

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