Pressure on the employer from a series of warning strikes at the Suez Süd waste company, enabled services union ver.di to secure a new pay agreement that runs until 31 December 2018. The first pay increase of 2% is backdated to 1 August this year and the next pay rise will be a further 2% from 1 August next year. There will also be two lump sum payments, one net payment of EUR 150 and one of EUR 125 gross. Apprentices will get an extra EUR 275 this year and EUR 150 next year.
Warning strikes lead to negotiated settlement
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Warning strikes around the country in the lead up to new negotiations
The next round of pay negotiations for central and local government workers will get underway on 25 February following a series of warning strikes organised by ver.di. From 14 February thousands of council workers, federal employees and health workers in different cities and regions began taking strike action to show their disgust at the failure of the employers to make any significant improvement to their earlier pay offer. Ver.di reports high levels of support for strike action and a rise in union membership in some areas. Ver.di has set up a “Strike TV” website where you can follow progress
Flat-rate pay rise in settlement in local government
The local government unions – UNISON, Unite and GMB – have agreed to accept the employers’ offer of a flat-rate pay rise of £1925 (€2205) on annual salaries for 2023. The increase is worth around 9% for the lowest paid workers but about 4% for most of the workforce. The unions had initially demanded an increase of 12.7% and have made clear that they are already looking to the negotiations in 2024 to deliver better pay for local government workers. The agreement covers workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, UNISON is consulting over an improved offer from the employers
Warning strikes lead to higher pay increase
The 9,000 workers covered by the GWE (gas, water, electricity) agreement in North-Rhine Westfalia will see their pay increase by 3.3% this year. The unions won an increased offer (up from 3%) following a series of warning strikes. The agreement will also last 14 months rather than the 15 proposed by the employers. The agreement also commits the employers to maintain the level of apprenticeships and to take on apprentices for at least 12 months after they have qualified. Read more at > ver.di (DE)