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Bremen — Employer — German Federal States — Hanover — Lower Saxony — Potsdam — Strikes — Tariffs — Trade unions — union statement — United Services Union — Wage dispute — Warning Strike

State collective bargaining dispute: thousands in Hanover and Bremen

State collective bargaining dispute: thousands in Hanover and Bremen

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State collective bargaining dispute: thousands in Hanover and Bremen
State collective bargaining dispute: thousands in Hanover and Bremen

Thousands of Workers Protest in Hanover and Bremen Over Wage Dispute

In the approach to further negotiations in the public sector wage dispute across several German states, employees have been participating in warning strikes, as reported by various unions. Over 5,500 individuals gathered at Opera Square in Hanover on Wednesday, with approximately 3,000 demonstrators joining a rally in Bremen, according to Verdi. The upcoming negotiations are set to take place in Potsdam on Thursday, December 7, potentially marking the final round in the ongoing wage dispute.

Christine Behle, the deputy federal chairwoman of Verdi in Hanover, conveyed the sentiment that the annual tax revenues of the German federal states are continually on the rise. She argued that the issue at hand wasn't affordability; rather, it was a matter of inappropriate distribution of funds. Verdi further stated that firefighters expressed their dissatisfaction on Wednesday regarding the Christmas bonus, which had not been fully restored. There was a demonstration staged in front of the Ministry of Finance as well.

The wage dispute concerns the pay of around 1.1 million employees nationwide, with 1.4 million civil servants likely to be affected by the outcome. Trade unions are campaigning for a 10.5% income increase for public sector employees in the German federal states, amounting to at least €500 more per month. Junior employees are seeking an additional €200 monthly, and trainees hope for indefinite employment opportunities.

In the second round of negotiations at the beginning of November, the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder expressed that they perceived the union's demands as excessively high and unaffordable.

Further Reading:

  • Lower Saxony Unions Join the Cause: Alongside Verdi, the United Services Union, which represents employees in Lower Saxony, has also entered the wage dispute and has announced its intention to participate in the warning strikes in Hanover and Bremen.
  • Employer Association Warns: The employer's association based in Potsdam, the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder, issued a warning statement declaring that the proposed wage increases demanded by the trade unions would result in substantial tariff hikes, impacting numerous industries in the area.
  • Union's Perspective: In response to the employers' stance, the union released an official statement, stressing that the wage dispute was primarily a matter of justly distributing revenue, rather than an affordability issue.
  • Follow-up Meeting: A day following the warning strikes in Hanover and Bremen, representatives from the employer and trade unions were scheduled to convene in Potsdam to discuss the wage dispute and potential resolution options.
  • Union Front Figure to Attend: Attending the Potsdam meeting would be Christine Behle, the deputy federal chairwoman of Verdi, who had previously criticized the distribution of tax revenues in Hanover and advocated that the low wages for public sector employees were unjustified.
  • Civil Servants and Public Transport Workers Monitor the Negotiations: Despite ongoing strikes in various cities, including Hanover and Bremen, civil servants in other German states are closely observing the Potsdam negotiations, hoping for a favorable outcome that would ultimately improve wages and working conditions.

Original Source:

Enrichment Data:

  • Strike Updates:
  • Berlin's BVG: The Verdi union has announced a 24-hour warning strike at Berlin's urban transit operator, BVG, which resulted in severely impacted bus, tram, and subway services, excluding the S-Bahn. The strike is part of a larger wage dispute, as BVG employees demand a base salary increase of €750, a shift allowance of €300, and a doubling of the shift premium to €200.
  • National Strike: A nationwide strike is planned for February 21, affecting six federal states (Baden-Württemberg, Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate) and involving 53,000 employees from over 70 companies. The goal is to support demands for higher salaries for public sector employees.
  • Negotiations Status:
  • The negotiation process is ongoing, with no agreement in place. Verdi representatives are currently demanding a 8% wage increase or €350 more per month, but employers have yet to submit counter-proposals.
  • The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 14-16 in Potsdam. If a resolution is not reached during this time, additional strikes are possible.
  • Union Criticism and Alternative Organizations:
  • Criticism within the union ranks is emerging, with some members questioning Verdi's commitment to fighting for their demands. The Transport Workers Action Committee calls on BVG employees to break away from Verdi's structure and organize independently.
  • Sources:

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