Group in the crisis
Third tariff round runs on the train
It should be the last round of talks in the ongoing railway collective bargaining. The EVG and the group want to talk to each other for five days. The passengers could breathe a sigh of relief in the event of an agreement.
Deutsche Bahn and the Railway and Transport Union (EVG) have been negotiating more money for around 190,000 in the third and at best round. Both sides strive for a degree at the meeting in Berlin. The talks are created for five days up to and including Sunday.
“Our declared goal is to get ready,” said EVG negotiator Cosima Inschay. “It is on the employer on how much is still on the table.” From the beginning, the union sought an agreement before the Bundestag election. It fears economic and structural uncertainties for the group under a union government.
Railway Human Resources Director Martin Seiler emphasized before the negotiations began: “There is still a lot of work ahead of us and the situation is not easy.” He pointed out that the group was in a phase of the renovation and the scope is therefore not that big. Many topics are still open. “That means we will make an effort to come to solutions for the next five days. That is also the common goal, but there is still a hard work.” However, he was confident that it could succeed.
Evg: “We won’t end at any price”
If the plan opened, it would be the first tariff dispute of the railway for years without significant restrictions on rail traffic. Due to the obligation to peace, the EVG cannot call for warning strikes until the end of March. If the negotiations fail this week, however, this option is closer. “We won’t be able to complete at all costs,” emphasized Inschay. “It has to fit for the colleagues in the end. Otherwise we are on April 1st.”
The EVG demands 7.6 percent more and additional money of a further 2.6 percent for shift workers. Part of the additional money should be converted into days off. The union also wants an employment guarantee by the end of 2027.
The current offer of the railway provides for a gradual tariff increase for shift workers of around 7.9 percent including additional money. For all other employees, the fee would increase by 4 percent. The term should therefore be 37 months. Seiler said the train had not brought a new offer. It is now a matter of discussing open topics and coming to further partials.
dpa
Source: Stern
