More than 520 young people are currently pursuing a dual degree program at Continental. They can all now look forward to clear and uniform conditions for their dual studies. Together, we and IG BCE have succeeded in concluding a collective bargaining agreement with the company for dual students.
Uniform Standards Secured
Until now, different collective bargaining and company regulations applied across Continental’s 57 locations. But that will come to an end in February 2017. The agreement that has now been reached will take effect at that time. It guarantees all dual students uniform compensation structures and vacation entitlements, as well as Christmas and vacation bonuses, and clear rules regarding the reimbursement of educational materials, tuition, and exam fees. In addition, the parties to the agreement generally recommend that dual students be hired into permanent apprenticeship positions upon successful completion of their program.
Dual students with existing contracts may voluntarily opt into the new regulations.
“The agreement at Continental is groundbreaking, including for other corporations and companies. Continental is now one of the first major corporations in which the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement apply to dual students,” says Hartmut Meine, IG Metall regional director for Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. But one thing is also clear to him: “In the medium term, the conditions for dual students should be regulated in regional collective bargaining agreements across all industries.”
Dual students need a clear status under labor law
However, both lawmakers and employers’ associations have so far refused to acknowledge the growing importance of dual study programs. This has serious consequences: Unlike apprentices, whose status is clearly defined in the Vocational Training Act and whose pay and working conditions are clearly regulated in regional collective bargaining agreements, dual students—due to their unclear status under labor law—have no binding entitlements to pay or other working conditions such as working hours and vacation time.
Company-specific collective bargaining agreements, such as the one at Continental, are a first step in the right direction—but only the first step toward fair working conditions for dual students.
