Parallel to the warning strike in the entire transport sector in Germany, trade unions and employers in the collective bargaining dispute in the public sector are meeting again today for talks. The third round of negotiations in Potsdam is scheduled for Wednesday (March 29). Before the start, the head of the civil servants’ association dbb, Ulrich Silberbach, warned of a further escalation in the collective bargaining dispute.
“Either we cut the knot and find an agreement, or we face another wave of escalation and strikes,” said Silberbach of the German Press Agency (dpa). He called on the employers’ side to bring movement into the deadlocked negotiations with a new offer. “So far, the federal government and local authorities have categorically rejected a socially balanced collective bargaining agreement,” criticized his negotiating partner, Verdi boss Frank Werneke, in an interview with the dpa.
Faeser relies on tariff solution
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) is counting on an early solution. “Many people, including those in the public sector, are suffering from high energy prices and high inflation these days,” said Faeser. “That’s why it’s also our job to find a good deal together. They now expect the trade unions to be accommodating,” said Faeser come to a good solution.”
Faeser said she had “a lot of understanding” that travelers were annoyed by the restrictions on rail traffic. Faeser expressly pointed out “that we are not negotiating here about the railway contract and are also not negotiating with the EVG”. In fact, the warning strike in transport affects both collective bargaining, which the EVG is conducting with railway companies, as well as the collective bargaining round for the public service in Potsdam. Faeser said: “I know that the right to strike is a fundamental right and everyone has the right to do so at any time.” However, one should make sure that the activities also fit.
Difficult talks because of strikes?
The offer made by the municipalities and the federal government in the second round of negotiations in February includes, among other things, a linear increase of 5 percent in two steps over a period of 27 months. Against the background of high inflation, however, Verdi and dbb are demanding 10.5 percent more income for the 2.5 million employees, but at least 500 euros more per month for a period of twelve months. “It has to be clear: we can’t avoid a minimum amount,” Werneke made clear.
The general manager of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities, Gerd Landsberg, again warned of a financial overload on the municipalities. A high collective bargaining agreement will exacerbate the difficult situation in many communities, Landsberg told the “Bild”. In the current situation, municipalities could therefore be forced to raise garbage fees, entrance fees for swimming pools or property taxes.
The German district association expects difficult talks because of the extensive warning strikes. “Such demonstrations of power during ongoing negotiations go well beyond the goal,” said the association’s president, district administrator Reinhard Sager, the editorial network Germany (RND). “The unions have clearly exaggerated.” Paralyzing local and long-distance traffic is “an unnecessary escalation” in the collective bargaining round.
