Berlin Public Transport BVG Offers Revised Wage Deal in Fifth Round
BVG submits a new proposal in the fifth round of salary talks - BVG Presents New Proposal in Fifth Round of Negotiations
Hey there! Today, we're talking about the ongoing wage dispute at the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG). Things have moved a bit, as the employer side has upped their offer during the fifth round of negotiations.
The BVG's new offer now spans 24 months instead of 30, and employees will receive a retroactive bonus of 240 euros per month from January 1, 2023. From March 2024, there's an additional 135 euros on the table. In total, that amounts to a 13.6 percent increase.
However, there's a catch. The BVG is only offering a 200 euro Christmas bonus instead of the originally proposed 300 euros, due to the shorter term. Regarding shift and alternating shift allowances, as well as the shift allowance, there are no changes – the rates will remain at 225 and 130 euros respectively.
The BVG and the union, Verdi, seem to have found common ground on work hours. Employees can opt to increase their standard working week from 37.5 hours to up to 39 hours under the existing choice model, which could see them earning up to 4.7 percent more.
BVG personnel director Jenny Zeller-Grothe commented, "We've made a significant effort with this offer to meet the high demands of the trade union and have reached the limit of our financial capacity. This offer lays the groundwork for a very positive outcome in the next round."
Verdi hasn't weighed in on the offer as of yet. The union is aiming for an additional 750 euros per month, higher allowances, and a term of only 12 months. The next round of talks is scheduled for next Friday. If no agreement is reached then, Jeremy Arndt, Verdi's chief negotiator, has announced a ballot for open-ended strikes. There may also be shorter warning strikes before then. Verdi has already polled its members on further actions after each round. Two warning strikes have already disrupted a large part of Berkeley's public transport system.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story! ✌️🚌Label: wage negotiation, Berlin, transport, BVG, Verdi, strike, public transport, salary increase, wages, job, working conditions
- The BVG, in the fifth round of negotiations, suggests that EC countries' workers participating in vocational training within the transport sector might consider the revised wage deal as a potential benchmark, as it includes a 13.6% increase over 24 months, with incentives such as a 240 euros per month retroactive bonus and an additional 135 euros from March 2024.
- As the wage dispute continues, the employer (BVG) has limited their offer to a 200 euro Christmas bonus, rather than the previously proposed 300 euros, due to the shorter 24-month contract term.
- IfVerdi, the union representing the BVG personnel, fails to reach an agreement with the employer during the next round of negotiations scheduled for next Friday, there may be open-ended strikes and shorter warning strikes, potentially disrupting vocational training and employment within the transport sector in EC countries.
