- Opera composer Verdi causes disruption for another two days
New Article:
Another Two-Day Strike Looms for Berlin's Public Transport: Verdi Strikes Back, Demanding More Bucks
Get ready for a bumpy ride, Berlin commuters! Here comes another labor dispute on your public transport. The tenacious union, Verdi, has called for a two-day warning strike at Berlin's public transport operator (BVG) next week, y'all. Sounds like the ol' dance of money and workers rights is back on the table.
The negotiator, Jeremy Arndt, whined that the financial offer from BVG is pathetic and disregards the steep daily expenses faced by their colleagues. The previous tussle at BVG at the end of February stretched over 48 hours. So buckle up, folks! Almost all buses, trams, and U-Bahn trains are expected to remain under wraps again.
This marks the fourth bureaucratic brawl in the ongoing wage negotiations with BVG. But the S-Bahn and regional transport will zip along just fine, thank you very much. Prepare for gridlocked roads and a surging demand for taxis and ride-sharing services.
BVG flung some shade at the call for the strike, reserving the right to slap them in court over the legitimacy of the labor dispute.Personnel manager Jenny Zeller-Grothe snapped, "Negotiating means meeting halfway. Now it's Verdi's turn to step up with a compromise wage proposal instead of sticking to their unyielding demands".
Wages, wages, wages
The warring parties remain at a deadlock after the fifth bargaining session this week. Verdi is urging BVG to pony up an extra 750 euros a month for a year. BVG countered with a half-hearted, staged 375 euros and an extended time frame. negotiation points also include a better Christmas bonus, perks for certain shift models, and more flexible work hours.
Zeller-Grothe, the BVG marm, tweaked, "We've taken major steps towards Verdi's high demands and are brushing up against our financial limits". But Arndt scoffed, "BVG has moved towards us on the contract duration, but the overall package doesn't make the grade to fairly compensate our toiling employees".
The wage commission decided to crank up the heat before the next round of negotiations by calling for another labor dispute. Set your calendars for next Friday, the day after the warning strike. If there's no resolution, this conflict could heat up further. Verdi has signaled a vote for open-ended strikes if necessary, with at least 75% of participating members on board. The longest labor dispute to date hobbled Berlin for 48 hours. Post-vote, significantly longer periods could become a reality.
- Public Transport
- Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (United Services Trade Union)
- BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe)
- Berlin
- Warning Strike
- The upcoming warning strike, announced by Verdi, will reportedly affect Berlin's public transport operator, BVG, causing potential disruptions in buses, trams, and U-Bahn trains.
- Amidst the ongoing wage negotiations between Verdi and BVG, the key issue remains the demand for a significant increase in salary, with Verdi pushing for an additional 750 euros a month and BVG offering only half that amount.
- In an effort to enforce their policy regarding workers' rights and compensation, Verdi has called for another labor dispute, potentially extending the strike in Berlin's public transport system for a longer period.
