By Nils Kottmann
On Monday, the trade unions in Germany drummed up a historic warning strike – which did not bring much for the time being.
The collective bargaining for the public service of federal and local authorities have failed! Employers and unions did not reach a result in the last of three planned rounds of negotiations.
The employer offered a wage increase of eight percent, but at least 300 euros more per month and a one-time payment of 3,000 euros.
“In the end we had to realize that the differences could not be bridged,” said Verdi boss Frank Werneke (55) early Thursday morning in Potsdam. The head of the civil servants’ association dbb, Ulrich Silberbach (61), also declared the negotiations to have failed.
Werneke and Silberbach demand 10.5 percent more money from the federal government and the municipalities, but at least 500 euros more per month.
Strikes possible after Easter
With a breakthrough, new strikes – like the Germany strike on Monday – can be averted. However, failure does not necessarily result in new outstanding debts. Either party may initiate arbitration within 24 hours of the declaration of failure.
Union bosses Frank Werneke (Verdi, front) and Ulrich Silberbach (Beamtenbund, left) in negotiations with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (back) Photo: Fabian Matzerath
This is exactly what Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (52, SPD) wants to do: “We will now convene the arbitration,” said the minister early Thursday morning in Potsdam.
In such a case, the previously appointed independent arbitrators would propose a solution within a set period of time.
During an arbitration there is a peace obligation. There would then be no new strikes and warning strikes until after Easter.
Collective bargaining concerns the salaries of more than 2.4 million municipal employees and 134,000 federal employees.
Among them are members of a number of professions – including educators, bus drivers, pool employees, firefighters, nurses, administrative employees, geriatric nurses, sewage treatment plant employees, foresters and doctors.