Collective bargaining conflict: Tough negotiations about more money for country employees

In the possibly decisive round of negotiations on more money for more than a million public service workers in the federal states, trade unions and employers initially failed to come to a conclusion.

According to the employers’ side, “movement” started in the talks. A conclusion in the evening was considered possible, but an extension of the negotiations until Monday was not ruled out.

“Both sides are interested in an agreement,” said a spokesman for Lower Saxony’s finance minister Reinhold Hilbers (CDU), who leads the negotiations for the collective bargaining community of the federal states (TdL) and thus the employers. Spokespeople for the Verdi union and the dbb officials’ association confirmed that the TdL had submitted an offer. This is now being intensively negotiated in various rounds. “The negotiations are difficult,” said the union. Hilbers told the German Press Agency that it was currently discussing details in the health sector.

Five percent more salary required

Verdi and dbb had demanded five percent more salary, but at least 150 euros more per month, for the more than one million state employees in university clinics, the police, schools or daycare centers. In the health sector, it should be 300 euros more due to the high burden on employees from Corona. A degree is to be transferred to 1.4 million civil servants and around one million pension recipients.

The Lower Saxony finance minister had repeatedly described the demands as unrealistic and referred to already high pandemic-related expenses to support the health system, the economy and the municipalities. The union demands would therefore result in additional spending of around 7.5 billion euros.

Unions are increasing the pressure

In two rounds of negotiations in October and early November, the two sides initially failed to come closer. Most recently, the unions had therefore increased the pressure in the midst of the aggravated corona situation with warning strikes, including at university hospitals. Employees also went on strike at daycare centers and schools, in police departments and in administrations.

At the start of the third and possibly decisive round of negotiations, Verdi chairman Frank Werneke said on Saturday that the union was coming with the firm will to achieve a result. “Whether that will succeed is an open question.” Verdi will do everything possible to come to an agreement this weekend. The dbb chairman Ulrich Silberbach criticized the federal states: The refusal to significantly improve income and working conditions in the health care system was completely unacceptable.

With the exception of Hesse, the federal states negotiate jointly in the collective bargaining community of the federal states. Hessen has not been a member since 2004 and is negotiating separately. In mid-October, employers and employees there agreed to gradually increase salaries for state employees by a total of four percent. In addition, there are special payments totaling 1000 euros.