Tuesday, November 02, 2021
“Don’t waste our time”
Verdi announces strikes in the public sector
Collective bargaining between the countries and the unions is stalling. There was no offer from the employers in the second round either. Verdi angrily announces the first outstanding debts.
In the wage dispute for employees in the federal states except Hesse, the unions have announced strikes after an unsuccessful second round of negotiations. “Those were two lost days and if the finance ministers of the federal states carry on like this, they will drive the negotiations completely up against the wall,” said Verdi federal chief Frank Werneke. The focus should be on the health facilities of the federal states. The actions should therefore take place nationwide by the third round of wages at the end of November.
Previously, the second round of negotiations had not produced any concrete results either. The employers have again not submitted an offer for the approximately 1.1 million collective bargaining employees in the federal states. The collective bargaining association of German countries (TdL) refused to respect and appreciate, it said by Verdi. They do not recognize “the current price increases and do not want to compensate for them”. On the other hand, they are now defending themselves “with strike and pressure”. “We don’t waste our time for days in order to hear a stoic no from the employers’ side to all the demands of the employees,” Werneke continues.
The unions are demanding an increase in income of five percent, but at least 150 euros over a period of twelve months. Healthcare workers are to receive an additional 300 euros per month in the form of a table. The training allowances are to be increased by 100 euros. The employers have so far rejected the claims.
The result of the negotiations is then usually transferred to the state officials and also affects the retirees. In the end, that’s almost three and a half million people.