The management of Still Gmbh, a Linde subsidiary, has finalised an agreement with employee representatives for its German sites, which it says will boost its earning power.

The agreement consists of measures to increase flexibility in working hours and convert regular wage and salary payments into performance-related payments, and an employee obligation to participate in optimisation projects.

Employees receive a six-year guarantee that Still's current German production sites will not close and jobs will not be offshored to Eastern Europe.

If substantial, long-term changes occur in the economic and operational environment, the agreement, to be effective in stages, may be terminated.

Linde concluded a similar agreement for the German sites of its materials handling unit in late July (Forkliftaction.com News #220).