Collective negotiations: new warning strikes in the public service “All over the country”

In the next few days, new warning strikes in daycare centers, local transport or the garbage disposal will be available to the citizens. The second collective bargaining round for more than 2.5 million employees of the federal government and municipalities remained without approach, the employers did not provide any offer. The industrial action would therefore be expanded before the Bundestag election on Sunday, said Verdi boss Frank Werneke in Potsdam.

Which warning strikes are planned

Werneke announced. Details on planned actions, i.e. where daycare centers are affected or bus lines are not driving where the garbage is not picked up or administrations are closed, that still has to be coordinated. “Activities will still take place this week,” said Werneke. The negotiator of the DBB civil servant, Volker Geyer, spoke of warning strikes and protests “all over the country” in the next three weeks. “Otherwise, we obviously can’t get the employers out of their blockade.”

What the unions want to dispute

Verdi and the DBB negotiate with the federal government and the municipalities about income and working hours of more than 2.5 million employees. These work not only in administration, but also in daycare centers, at schools and universities, in local transport, waste companies or at airports. Firefighters and federal police officers are also included.

The unions want to enforce a wage increase of eight percent, but at least 350 euros per month. There should be higher surcharges in particularly stressful jobs such as in the health sector. In addition, the unions want to negotiate three additional days off, even four for union members. All of this should be managed on flexible working time accounts so that you can decide for yourself whether you want to be paid overtime or want to accumulate them.

Why the negotiations stall

Employers have not submitted a offer in the two rounds of negotiations so far. The negotiator of the municipalities, the Mayor of Gelsenkirchen Karin Welge (SPD). Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), who negotiates for the federal government, emphasized: “The unions have high demands – and at the same time we have to keep an eye on the common good, the scarce coffers and the interests of taxpayers.”

The unions considered the lack of offer as an expression lack of respect. “Many of the colleagues work on the stress limit and beyond and that completely refuse to do any solution and every answer,” complained Werneke. Geyer emphasized that after all, the employees were not responsible for the misery of public budgets. “And we won’t allow you to have to pay the colliery.”

How things are going on now

An agreement was not necessarily expected at the second round of negotiations anyway – the date for a third meeting from 14 to 16 March was already certain. The federal government and municipalities were confident that they can get a compromise.

However, the unions warned that this is becoming much more difficult. In particular, the municipalities that would have to shoulder most of the additional costs are on the brake, said Werneke. “This significantly deteriorated the chances in a third round of negotiations, which begins on March 14th, to come to a result, because it has been a clear expectation of the employees that an offer is now available, which then also the basis for the Discussion and reflection in membership is among the employees. “