Berlin local transport: Verdi is again striving for two days of Berlin local transport

There are again considerable restrictions on passengers in Berlin local transport. The Verdi union has called on Wednesday and Thursday for the next two -day warning strike at the Berlin transport companies (BVG). “The financial offer of the BVG is completely inadequate and ignores the massive price increases with which our colleagues have to fight every day,” said negotiator Jeremy Arndt. The previous strip at BVG at the end of February lasted 48 hours.

The BVG clearly criticized the call. The company reserves the legal steps with a view to the proportionality of the industrial action, it said. “Negotiating means approaching one another,” said head of HR Jenny Zeller-Grothe. “Now Verdi is his turn to bring a compromise proposal on the subject to the topic, instead of further adhering to maximum demands. The ball is at Verdi.”

After the fifth round of negotiations, the collective bargaining parties died again this week without agreement. There are differences in particular when the remuneration is paid. Verdi demands 750 euros per month with a term of 12 months. The BVG recently gradually offered 375 euros and a duration twice as long. Negotiations are also being made about a higher Christmas bonus, allowances for certain layer models and more flexible working hours.

“We have clearly accommodated the high demands of the union and are at the limit of our financial options,” said Zeller-Grothe after the talks on Wednesday. Verdi recognized that the BVG had accommodated it with the 24-month contract term. “Nevertheless, the overall package is not sufficient to appropriately reward the hard work of the employees,” emphasized negotiator Arndt.