BERLIN (dpa-AFX) – According to a survey, the collective bargaining demands of the trade unions in the public sector meet with shared views among the citizens. In the new “Deutschlandtrend” in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”, 44 percent of those questioned consider the demands for 10.5 percent more wages, but at least 500 euros more per month, to be appropriate, and another 8 percent do not even go far enough. However, 42 percent think that the demands of the unions go too far.
Among citizens over 65, the rejection of the wage expectations of the Verdi union and the civil servants’ association dbb is even higher at 51 percent. The situation is somewhat different among the employed respondents. Here, 49 percent consider the workers’ demands to be appropriate, and a further 10 percent believe that the increase in wages should be even higher.
The unions are demanding 10.5 percent more wages for the 2.5 million federal and local employees nationwide, but at least 500 euros more per month. The employer side has so far offered 5 percent in two steps and one-off payments of 2500 euros. For weeks, employees have been putting pressure on with warning strikes. In many places there are therefore restrictions, for example in local transport, in day care, in waste disposal or in clinics and social facilities. The third round of negotiations is scheduled for March 27-29 in Potsdam./shy/DP/jha