Lidl signs first deal with unions in Spain 


Supermarket group Lidl has reached its first agreement with unions in Spain. 


The agreement, which covers 10,000 employees, was signed with unions in the two main confederations in Spain, CCOO and UGT, and runs for four years from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2019. 


A new minimum rate of €8.50 an hour is established under the agreement, as much as 13% above the previous level, with annual increases after that of at least 0.5% — potentially more — depending on the company’s performance. Prices in spain fell by 0.8% in the year to February.


The agreement also guarantees that employees will have at least two days off a week and that at least 75% of the staff will be on permanent contracts.


Both CCOO and UGT have welcomed the settlement with the privately owned German company.


€1 = 78p on 15 March