Wage brawl - DGB points finger at collective bargaining collective of federal states for hindrance
Prospective one-day strike in the public sector of the federal states on December 4 is on the horizon, and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) in Rhineland-Palatinate has leveled accusations of obstruction against the collective bargaining association of the federal states (TdL). The TdL's actions are unacceptable, said DGB state chief Susanne Wingertszahn on Thursday during a Mainz press conference. In an era of persistent demand for skilled workers, the public sector must reclaim its competitive edge in the hunt for top-notch talent.
According to DGB Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland, the first two rounds of negotiations with the TdL yielded little progress. The employers' side had not responded to their demands, nor had they presented an offer. As a consequence, the upcoming one-day strike is unavoidable. The second round of negotiations, which took place at the beginning of November, saw the Tarifgemeinschaft deutsche Länder express their belief that the unions' demands were overly ambitious and financially impractical. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for December 7 and 8 in Potsdam.
The wage dispute pertains to the remuneration of nearly 1.1 million employees across the nation, affecting over 1.4 million civil servants similarly. The DGB estimates that a total of approximately 120,000 employees and civil servants in Rhineland-Palatinate will be impacted. The unions are demanding a 10.5 percent increase in income, as well as an additional 500 euros per month.
Teachers in Rhineland-Palatinate schools are particularly anticipating "a strong statement," said Klaus-Peter Hammer, the state chairman of the Education and Science Union (GEW). "Competitive wages will be crucial in attracting the urgently needed specialists, rather than merely attracting them to schools."
Additional Insights:
- The ongoing collective bargaining dispute between the DGB and the TdL reflects broader national issues related to militarization, austerity, and the struggle between workers and the capitalist system in Germany.
- The current context suggests that the ruling class in Germany is bolstering its military capabilities at an unprecedented pace, with all major political parties in the Bundestag backing this movement, even supporting actions that threaten nuclear war or humanitarian crises in regions such as Gaza.
- Capitalists are pressing for higher profits on the backs of workers, contributing to extreme wealth inequality and poverty in Germany. Major companies like Volkswagen have announced mass layoffs and wage cuts, further impacting the working class.
- Trade unions like the DGB and their affiliates, such as IG Metall and Verdi, have faced criticism for fully endorsing the government's pro-war policies, choosing to make concessions and support cuts that harm workers in the name of keeping locations competitive in the global race for lower costs and higher profits.
- The Socialist Equality Party (SGP) advocates for workers to form independent action committees, free from trade union bureaucracy, to defend every job and reject any wage and social benefit concessions.
