Tariff dispute: Talks for public service are going

The tariff talks for the public service of the federal government and municipalities in Potsdam are in length. Some participants saw some movement in the possibly decisive round of negotiations on Sunday, as the German press agency learned on the side. For the time being, nobody wanted to make a forecast of the chances of unification.

It is about income and working hours of more than 2.5 million employees from daycare to waste disposal. Verdi and DBB civil servants are demanding a tariff increase of eight percent, but at least 350 euros more per month, as well as at least three additional days a year. The demands of the federal government and municipalities are too expensive. The core demands of the unions alone put it at 15 billion euros a year for the municipalities.

DGB boss defends claims

The chairwoman of the German Union Confederation, Yasmin Fahimi, defended the strict line of negotiations. “We know from reliable surveys that we continue to have a very broad support for people on strike for better payments and working conditions,” said Fahimi of the “Rheinische Post”. She referred to rising prices for food, energy and rents.

The talks in Potsdam are already the third round of negotiations. It is actually announced until Sunday evening, but could go to Monday until the night. If no result is achieved, a toilet would be possible. In this case, there could be warning strikes in the public service again – most recently, tens of thousands of employees in daycare centers, at airports or at the garbage disposal had temporarily laid down work. It would also be conceivable that a side explains a failure of the negotiations. Then there would be arbitration and for the time being no further warning strikes.