Intensified Push for the Tariftreue Act by DGB - DGB Pushes for New Legislation Against Wüst
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Grilling Wüst: DGB Pushes for Wage Agreement Law at May Day Demo
Hey there, folks! Let's get straight to the point. On May 1st, DGB's state chairwoman, Anja Weber, will confront Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) about the long-awaited Wage Agreement Law. Both will attend the May Day demonstration in Siegburg. Last year, Wüst pledged this law, but it still hasn't materialized, leaving Weber fed up.
The focus will be on improving working conditions for employees in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) through a Wage Agreement Law. According to Weber, this law would ensure that public contracts can only be awarded to companies that pay according to wage agreements. As more and more employees work without these protective agreements, this law is more crucial than ever.
Study reveals the stark reality: only half of employees in NRW work under wage agreements—a significant drop from around 82% three decades ago. The state government has the power to bring this change, and it's time they acted upon it.
The May Day events across NRW will be effectual. Aside from the Siegburg demonstration, politicians like Mona Neubaur (Greens) in Gelsenkirchen, Svenja Schulze (SPD) in Hamm, and Gregor Gysi (The Left) in Solingen, will also attend.
Opposition parties like the SPD have lambasted the black-green state government for their inactivity on this issue. They claim it's a dismal failure given NRW's declining wage agreement coverage. The SPD parliamentary group leader in the state government argues that a strong collective agreement compliance law would be a significant milestone, but NRW's government offers only empty promises.
Now, let's break it down. As of January 2025, Germany's statutory minimum wage is €12.82 per hour, with a federal-level target of reaching €15/hour by 2026. However, this target is contingent on recommendations from the Minimum Wage Commission. Employers must pay the minimum wage hourly in NRW and comply with §3 of the Minimum Wage Act.
The federal coalition agreement emphasizes working hour flexibility, collective bargaining expansion, and minimum wage adjustments. While these policies apply nationwide, NRW-specific measures focus on healthcare reforms rather than wage laws. Meanwhile, the DGB, which advocates for stronger wage floors and collective bargaining rights, likely supports the federal €15/hour target and stricter law enforcement.
Stay tuned for more updates on this issue. Don't forget to show up and make your voice heard at the May Day demonstrations. Together, we can push for better working conditions!
- The DGB's state chairwoman, Anja Weber, is urging Minister President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) to implement the long-awaited Wage Agreement Law during the May Day demonstration in Siegburg.
- Weber advocates that this law would ensure that public contracts can only be awarded to companies that adhere to wage agreements, a critical measure as the number of employees working without these protective agreements is increasing.
- A study reveals that only half of employees in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) work under wage agreements, a significant drop from around 82% three decades ago.
- In addition to Weber, politicians such as Mona Neubaur (Greens) in Gelsenkirchen, Svenja Schulze (SPD) in Hamm, and Gregor Gysi (The Left) in Solingen, will also participate in May Day events across NRW, criticizing the state government's inactivity on this issue.
