DM's core function
DM’s core function is to give you a fast, precise and useful service – whether you are employed in a private or public workplace, whether you are new in the labour market or perhaps still a student, or whether you are self-employed or a jobseeker. DM is your organisation. We are not obliged to take any other interests into account than yours and those of your fellow members of DM.
DM is independent of party political, religious and economic interests. Members’ pay and working conditions is our core business. But we can offer you help and support in other areas as well: information, networking with other members in your profession, education and career advice.
DM is a trade union
As a trade union DM has collective as well as individual duties – acting on behalf of groups of members as well as single members.
DM is recognised as an official representative of members in collective bargaining rounds on pay and conditions and in other negotiations with employers. In the public sector DM negotiates general agreements for DM’s members employed by the state and local authorities. Collective bargaining is conducted in cooperation with other unions within the auspices of the Confederation of Professional Associations. This is also true of agreements made with private employers.
A general agreement in the public sector is a result of collective bargaining between two parties representing employers: a public authority - and employees: the DM.
The agreement covers salaries and pay structures as well as working conditions, working time, terms of notice etc. Some people consider employee rights such as the 37-hour week , paid lunch, maternity and paternity leave, compensation for overtime, right of one day’s paid leave to care for a sick child etc as a matter course. But these are benefits that have come about only through collective bargaining between trade unions such as DM and the employers. They are not the result of legislation.
If you are a public employee, you will normally be covered by DM’s general agreement with public employers. But there may be a number of conditions which will be subject to negotiations at your local workplace when you are offered a new job. These could be additional pay on top of the basic salary based on qualifications, a particular function or charge, duties after normal working hours etc.
If you are in private employment, you will normally be employed on an individual contract. But you will still be covered by rights laid down in law, such as holidays or the working conditions of salaried employees. A number of large private companies have entered into collective agreements with DM. You can see a list of these workplaces here...
A shop steward/workplace representative is elected by the members of DM at the workplace. The shop steward acts on behalf of his colleagues in dealings with the management. Local workplace clubs are the very backbone of DM. It is here that every subject relating to the workplace can be discussed, and here that a strategy in negotiations with the management is decided. Some workplaces have no shop stewards or clubs, but they may still have one or more staff who can act as DM contact persons.
You may safely contact a DM shop steward at any time – also in case of trouble. A shop steward acts as the link between DM and our members, e.g. during periods of collective bargaining, and it is the shop steward who negotiates pay deals, including supplementary pay.
About DM
DM has a total of app 40.000 members with degrees from the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and health sciences. They are in public as well as private employment in fields such as education, research, communication, administration, information technology and the environment.
DM aims at securing a good working life for members with a balance between career and family. Our core business is pay and conditions and new job opportunities.