Public service: tariff discussions begin without the federal and municipalities offer

Unions, the federal government and municipalities struggle for wages and working hours for more than 2.5 million employees in the public service. These are educators, nurses, bus drivers and firefighters as well as numerous other professional groups. The second round of negotiations started in Potsdam without an offer from the employer. To do this, all participants together expressed their solidarity after the fatal attack on a Verdi demonstration in Munich.

It is difficult to go on to the agenda now, made the Verdi chairman Frank Werneke and the negotiator of the DBB civil servant Association, Volker Geyer. However, it was deliberately decided to continue the negotiations, not to be intimidated and to represent democratic rights.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who is sitting at the table for the federal government, emphasized: “We will negotiate very seriously so that we can find adequate and good solutions for the federal government and the municipalities as well as for employees. For me, this is a question of respect for me People who keep our country running every day – especially in difficult times. “

Demand: more wages and more days off

On the one hand, the unions require a wage increase of eight percent, but at least 350 euros per month. At the same time, they want to negotiate three additional days off, even four for union members. The employees should get flexible working time accounts and decide for themselves whether they want to pay overtime or accumulate overtime.

After the first round of negotiations without approaching, there were already warning strikes in the daycare centers, local transport and the garbage disposal in many municipalities.

Municipalities: “more free” is not a solution

At the second collective round, the municipalities warned of overload. “More free” for the employees could not be the solution, said the Mayor of Gelsenkirchen Karin Welge (SPD) in the “Morgenmagazin” of WDR 2. She is negotiating as President of the Association of Local Employers’ Associations (VKA).

Since 2022 there have been relief for full-time employees in the municipal social and educational service. “This meant that some children’s day care facilities have been closed and all were dissatisfied: both the employees who went on strike for this and the parents,” she said.

Cities day President Markus Lewe warned that the municipalities could “fly around the ears” if the unions were given in. According to a survey of the city day among 100 major cities, 37 percent of cities can no longer present a balanced budget. Another 47 percent only managed a balanced budget by falling back on financial reserves.

Warning strikes still possible this week

In their view, employers have not yet commented on possible tariff steps. “We will continue to negotiate now and then let’s see when we present an offer,” said Faeser.

The unions have already shown that they are ready to significantly expand the warning strikes if there is no specific offer on the table by Tuesday evening. Larger promotions in daycare centers, local transport, airports or garbage disposal would then be possible – and that before the Bundestag election, i.e. this week.

An agreement in the tariff dispute is to be expected at the earliest in mid -March. A third round of negotiations is already scheduled.