The OGBL and the Board of Governors of Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg, recently signed the renewal of the collective agreement covering the 330 or so employees of this educational institution.

The new agreement, which includes new equity measures, improvements in working conditions and salary increases for all employees, was negotiated for a period of three years.

The history of the Vauban agreement began in 2005. At that time, it covered only the staff of Lycée Vauban. Following the merger of the Ecole Française de Luxembourg (EFL; primary education) and the Lycée Vauban in 2017, the collective agreement was extended to cover all staff of the two now merged entities. This agreement, signed in September 2019, was the result of difficult and exhaustive negotiations, which at the time reflected a compromise between the demands of the employer and those of the OGBL. In September 2022, negotiations for the renewal of this collective agreement began in a constructive climate between the social partners.

As a result of these negotiations, significant improvements in both working conditions and wages were agreed:

• an increase in the annual salary progression rate to 2.1% for all employees (previously the rate was 2% for salaries up to 4,000 euros gross per month, 1.8% for salaries between 4,001 and 5,500 euros gross per month, and 1.6% for salaries above that)
• equal pay for primary school teachers with a CAPE (and equivalent diplomas) and secondary school teachers with a CAPES, who will be placed on the same salary scale level
• the introduction of a salary scale for administrative, technical and supervisory staff, with ranges depending on the position to be filled and the level of seniority, as well as the repositioning of existing staff within this scale
• an increase in the number of days of contractual leave for administrative, technical and supervisory staff, depending on their respective positions
• increased allowances for secondary and primary school teachers and the introduction of a special mission allowance for all staff
• an end-of-career salary increase of 2.1% at age 55
• an increase in seniority at recruitment, from 2/3 to 1/1 for seniority prior to Vauban for a position with an equivalent function, and from zero to 2/3 for a position without an equivalent function
• reduction of the reference period from one year to four months for administrative, technical and student support staff
• introduction of the principle of internal mobility in the text of the collective agreement
• creation of a monitoring group to draw up a job description list.

The OGBL welcomes the willingness of the management of Vauban, Ecole et Lycée français de Luxembourg, to recognize and value the work and skills of its staff. The union also thanks the employees for their support and commitment throughout the negotiations.

Press release of the Private Education Department of the Education and Science Syndicate (SEW) of the OGBL,
January 4, 2024