BUND and municipalities: Collective dispute of the public service: take over the arbitrator

The collective bargaining for the public service of the federal government and coming have failed for the time being – now the arbitrators are on the train. You should take up your work within three days. The warning strikes, which paralyzed daycare centers, garbage disposal and other facilities all over Germany, are over for the time being – they are not permitted during the arbitration.

No breakthrough in the third round

Since Friday, the third round of negotiations in Potsdam for more than 2.5 million people who work in clinics or daycare centers, airports or local transport, baths or care facilities, sewage works or waste companies. On Monday evening, the negotiator of the federal government, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), announced that arbitration would be initiated.

The employers named the former Hessian Prime Minister Roland Koch (CDU). As a “voting” arbitrator, he could be the decisive factor for a compromise. For the employee side, the former Bremen Finance Councilor Hans-Henning Lührer should become Schlichter.

The arbitration follows certain rules

The arbitrators advise on an arbitration commission in which employers and employees are represented in the same number. The Commission must decide on a recommendation within a week after its first meeting. If it cannot agree, the voting simple arbitrator makes the rash, i.e. cook. Then the recommendation goes back to another round of negotiations. Either the round accepts the result or negotiates. Only when the result is unacceptable for one side can the pre -vote be initiated – with the option on permanent strikes.

Unions and employers blame each other

The negotiator of the civil servant association, Volker Geyer, said on Monday evening: “The federal government and municipalities prevented a compromise with a lot of delay and destructive energy.” He emphasized that the public service needed more flexible working time models to keep up with private sector on the job market. Verdi boss Frank Werneke said: “We moved to the pain limit. The employers rejected our unification suggestions.”

Faeser and the negotiator of the municipalities, Karin Welge, however, said that the unions had moved too little. “But now I also expect willingness to compromise from the unions so that we will end up with a good degree in the interests of the employees,” said Faeser.

Verdi and civil servant association originally claimed a tariff increase of eight percent, but at least 350 euros more per month. They also wanted to enforce at least three additional days. This was too expensive for the employers of the federal government and municipalities. Finally, it was said that the employer offered an increase in fees by 5.5 percent as well as a higher 13th monthly salary and higher layer allowances. The term remained open.