The head of the civil service association, Ulrich Silberbach, is threatening a “lockdown” through widespread strikes in the collective bargaining dispute between the federal and local governments. “Such a hard labor dispute threatens if the employers do not submit an offer after three rounds of negotiations. Then pinpricks, i.e. warning strikes, are no longer sufficient,” said Silberbach of the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. “Then there is a risk of industrial action, i.e. a lockdown for the public service. Then trams will stop, daycare centers will be closed and the garbage will be left behind. Then it will be uncomfortable in this country.”
Verdi and the civil servants’ association dbb are demanding 10.5 percent more income, but at least 500 euros more for the approximately 2.5 million employees. The term should be 12 months. The Association of Municipal Employers’ Associations (VKA) had described the demands as “unaffordable” before the start of the negotiations. After the first round of negotiations in Potsdam on Tuesday, the trade unions and employers adjourned without finding anything. The talks are scheduled to continue on February 22nd and 23rd – the probably crucial third round of negotiations is planned for the end of March.
Silberbach told the newspaper that he did not rule out “area strikes”. “Employers should know: This is no fun, just not the usual ritual. We are serious because we have to do something about the frustration in the departments.” The head of the civil service association said: “We are threatened with state failure. Because the public service cannot meet the political requirements in view of the lack of staff and insufficient digitization.” Politics knows this. “But knowledge is not followed by action,” says Silberbach.
