41,000 academics to see salary increase

41,000 municipal academics in Denmark have reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement, featuring an economic framework of 8.8 percent, according to the professional union Djøf. The number corresponds to 39,000 full-time equivalents and covers various fields including construction, environment, and health. The new framework follows a similar state agreement settled two weeks prior. Salaries are expected to rise by 5.76 percent in 2024 and will see further improvements in 2025 along with pension increases. Djøf’s public chairman, Johanne Nordmann, emphasized the priority of raising wages to counteract inflation’s impact on purchasing power and is pleased with the adjustments to real wages. Additionally, greater work-life flexibility for these academics is being considered, including the introduction of a savings account for pension and holiday accrual. Nordmann notes the intention to expand on these arrangements in the next negotiations in 2026. The agreement mirrors another recent accord for 36,000 regional academics.