Two of the biggest transport unions called a nationwide strike. It is the biggest strike the country has seen in 30 years. The service workers' union ver.di and the union EVG, which represents rail workers, announced the walkout. The mass strike follows a series of failed talks with employers in recent weeks. The "mega strike", as it has been dubbed in local media, has affected commuter and regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, including at two of the biggest airports, Munich and Frankfurt. Ver.di is engaged in a series of pay negotiations, in which it is seeking a 10.5% pay raise. Employers have offered a total of 5 %in two stages plus a one-off payment of € 2,500. Ver.di represents about 2.5 million employees across the public sector, including in public transport and at airports. EVG represents about 230,000 employees at Deutsche Bahn and other bus companies. It wants a 12% rise in pay. Deutsche Bahn has also offered a two-stage raise totalling 5% plus one-off payments.
Read on: in English… Read on: in English (2)… Read on: in German… Read on: in German (2)…
For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu.
You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.