VAA – Chemistry Executives
About us
The Association of Employed Academics and Executives in the Chemical Industry VAA – Chemistry Executives (in German: Verein angestellter Akademiker und leitender Angestellter der chemischen Industrie e.V.) is the German organisation for managers and executives in the chemical and related industries. It safeguards the interests of almost 30.000 members and thus is one of the most important German professional associations and unions for executives and employees with managerial responsibility.
Members of the VAA belong to a wide range of occupational groups and over 70 % of the VAA members have an academic background, usually a degree or Ph.D. in natural or applied sciences with a large population as scientists, engineers and managers. Complementing this group there are also a significant number of economists, agronomists and lawyers working in responsible positions for their respective companies. The VAA represents all of them – executive staff in SMEs, large companies and corporations of the chemical and related industries.
The VAA represents its members in the material, legal and social interests by giving them advice on all aspects of working life and providing better labour conditions. Furthermore, the VAA offers special legal services tailored for retirees and older employees, who participate in part-time work schemes.
Politically independent, the VAA works closely with its social partners, the Federal Association of Employers in Chemistry BAVC and the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union IG BCE. In holding talks and bargaining directly with the BAVC, the VAA has achieved the setting-up of a special collective agreement for academics and non-tariff employees, who are not covered by the collective agreement between IG BCE and BAVC. In addition, the VAA is also signing party of a collective agreement on annual remuneration for employees in their second professional year.
Along with its umbrella association, the German Managers’ Confederation ULA, the VAA vigorously promotes the interests of executives on the political level in both Germany and the European Union.
The VAA is also a member of the European Federation of Managers in the Chemical and Allied Industries FECCIA and the European Confederation of Executives and Managerial Staff CEC.