Strike campaign to be stepped up in federal and local government

Germany

The ver.di trade union is organising further warning strikes following what it regards as a wholly inadequate pay offer from employers in federal and local government. The union is seeking a 10.5% pay increase with a minimum of €500 a month for the 2.5 million workers covered by the agreement. The employers, however, have offered only 3% by the end of 2023 and 2% in mid-2024 in what would be a 27-month agreement. There would also be lump sum payments of €1000 and €1500. The next steps in the campaign of warning strikes involve trainees and local transport workers. The third round of bargaining will take place on 27-29 March. Ver.di is seeking a similar pay rise at the Helios private health company that employs 21,000 workers. In this case, the pay offer from the employer is even more disappointing with only two increases of 2% in 2023 and 2024 and lump sum payments of €1500 and €500.

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Sep. 23, 2020

Warning strikes under way in federal and local government

Germany

Service union ver.di has launched warning strikes across federal and local government to put pressure on the employers following the second round of bargaining. The union reports that the two-day meeting was a waste of time with no offer from the employers and no real appreciation or recognition of the work done by public sector employees. The employers have indicated that they will come up with an offer before the next round of negotiations which are due on 22-23 October. However, ver.di is not expecting much as on one key issue - equalisation of working time between Eastern and Western

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