Timetable for negotiating collective agreements. In connection with the re-negotiation of collective agreements at industry-wide level, the parties shall plan and carry out the negotiations with the intention of concluding them before the current agreement has expired. Unless the parties decide otherwise, the negotiations shall be started at least three months before the expiry date by the parties putting forward their demands. Further demands may be put forward later only if the party can refer to factual grounds that prevented the demands from being put forward at the proper time. One month before the expiry date, the parties shall be supported by an impartial Chair, which shall intervene in the negotiations on its own initiative, and shall, within the framework of the Negotiating Agreement, take such measures as it considers necessary to complete the negotiations by the correct time. Should the parties wish to extend the current agreement, this shall require the consent of the impartial Chair. The impartial Chair for certain agreement areas is appointed by the executive member of the group referred to in §4. When necessary a second impartial Chair shall also be appointed. A party that intends to give notice of industrial action is obliged to inform the impartial Chair orally and in writing before giving such notice. The intention of the parties is to avoid any industrial action that would have a harmful long-term effect on business activities in the agreement area, that is unnecessarily damaging to third parties, or that is not in the national interest.
