Verdi Pushes for Shorter Workweek in Public Sector
In the midst of railroad union GDL and IG Metall pushing for shorter working hours with full wage compensation in their collective bargaining negotiations, service union Verdi isn't far behind. Frank Werneke, Verdi's CEO, voiced concerns to the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ) about longer working hours in the public sector and their impact on job appeal.
As of now, around 300,000 public sector jobs remain vacant, and there's a visible struggle to attract applicants in certain areas. To gauge the needs of its members, Werneke declared that an extensive survey will be conducted in the coming year to identify their preferences regarding working hours.
With full confidence, Werneke confirmed that Verdi will bring up the issue of working hours in the upcoming collective bargaining rounds for both private service sectors and employees in local authorities and the federal government, which is set to commence in 2025.
Verdi acknowledges the pressing issue of prolonged working hours in the public sector, which could negatively affect the attractiveness of public sector jobs. In the forthcoming collective bargaining discussion, the union intends to address working hours pertaining to both private service sectors and employees in local authorities and the federal government, commencing in 2025.
While Verdi's demands for Deutsche Post employees (a 7% wage increase, three extra vacation days, and improved working conditions) don't directly mention shortened working hours, they aim to address the rising cost of living and workers' increased workloads. Indirectly, these measures could influence discussions surrounding working hours, though they are not explicitly listed as demands in the available sources.
Enrichment Data: While Verdi doesn't explicitly mention shorter working hours as a demand, their focus on addressing longer working hours in the public sector and improving overall working conditions could open up the conversation for shortened working hours, ultimately affecting employee satisfaction and retention.
