State journalists’ agreement adds annual pay talks and a 2027 increase

Employers covered by the renewed agreement for journalists in state service must initiate salary negotiations at least once a year.Retsinformation Management must provide relevant salary statistics before those negotiations.Retsinformation The circular also describes discussion of the financial framework between the employer and negotiating representatives as part of a good local negotiation process.

The agreement separately raises its base-salary progression from 1 April 2027.Retsinformation For employees paid on that progression, the first step increases from DKK 280,871 to DKK 285,565 and the seventh step from DKK 331,192 to DKK 335,886. The figures are annual base amounts at the 31 March 2012 level, rather than current cash salaries.Retsinformation The pay-table change has its own application date after the agreement’s general effective date.

Coverage and exceptions matter when applying those figures. The agreement concerns qualified journalists employed by the state to perform journalistic work, as well as the teaching and qualification groups it specifies.Retsinformation Employees with the stated university journalism qualifications follow the state academics’ agreement for salary, pension contributions and working-time terms. The attached protocols also contain separate arrangements for teaching staff and specialist or senior consultants.

The renewal extends the possibility of paid leave to care for a sick child to the third sick day, and to the remaining working hours when the child becomes ill during the employee’s working day. The conditions include that the child is under 18 and lives at home, care is necessary in view of the child’s circumstances, and workplace conditions permit the leave. This is a conditional leave provision, rather than an unconditional absence entitlement.

The parties also permit retention bonuses and record the establishment of a Fritvalgs Lønkonto from 1 January 2028.Retsinformation The circular enters into force on 25 August 2026, while the collective agreement has effect from 1 April 2026.Retsinformation

The contractual basis is the circular of 25 August 2026 and the attached overenskomst for journalister i statens tjeneste, particularly its coverage, base-pay, negotiation, child-sickness and commencement provisions and the relevant attached protocols.