Deutsche Bahn and the railway and transport union (EVG) resumed negotiations in the ongoing wage dispute late Tuesday afternoon. “We’re in this round, and that’s a clear signal to the union that we’re prepared for an offer,” said DB HR Director Martin Seiler shortly before the meeting in Berlin. The offer will be “focused on wages, but we will also do something about the minimum wage issue”. Tuesday and Wednesday are scheduled for the negotiations.
“Our expectations are not too high,” emphasized EVG collective bargaining officer Cosima Ingenschay. “What is important to us is the minimum wage and structure.” This includes, for example, the different pay in East and West.
No concrete warning strike plans yet
At a demonstration in Berlin this Tuesday, the EVG members made clear their willingness to go on a warning strike if no offer was made, said Ingenschay. “But we only make concrete plans if we really have to resort to the last resort.” Ingenschay again did not confirm speculation that the EVG together with the Verdi union had concrete warning strike plans for March 27th.
In addition to the railways, the EVG is also negotiating with around 50 other railway companies. She demands at least 650 euros more wages from all companies. She wants to achieve an increase of twelve percent in the higher fees over a period of twelve months. In addition, she calls for some structural changes in the collective agreements.
The railway had rejected the claims as clearly too high. The first round of negotiations in Fulda was interrupted after just two hours at the end of February.
Diverging Claims
The EVG demands an offer from employers before concrete content can be negotiated. The federal railway had promised an offer for the round of negotiations starting this Tuesday. At the same time, she insists on talking about the demands first. “Of course, we now expect the EVG to enter into a substantive discussion,” said Bahn Board Member Seiler. “Our employees, but also the passengers, have a right to us coming to viable results very quickly and quickly.”
A sticking point from the trade union point of view is the statutory minimum wage. According to the EVG, this is currently only maintained for a few thousand employees thanks to allowances, but has not yet been included in the income table. The minimum wage issue is also included in the overall offer that Deutsche Bahn has in its luggage on Tuesday, the group said last week.
