In a collective bargaining dispute with EVG, Deutsche Bahn recently refused to negotiate further. The union again threatened to warn of a strike. Now is the time to start negotiations again – no need to worry about a strike until then.
Signs of talks are now back, after warnings of an impending rail strike. Representatives of EVG, the German railway and rail transport union, hope to hold a small meeting in the coming days to explore possible solutions to the collective bargaining conflict. There should be no warning strikes prior to a planned meeting. It said preparations for a possible industrial dispute “continue”.
According to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the meeting will be held next Monday and there are no strikes planned for the entire following week. EVG would like to take into account the upcoming Evangelical Church Congress in Nuremberg from June 7-11, the Eucharist holiday on June 11 and the end of the Whitsun holidays in some federal states.
EVG announced a further warning strike on Wednesday, but initially did not specify a date. She set next week as the earliest date.
Bahn had previously declined further talks
On Thursday, the union said it had issued a short-term invitation to rail negotiators. “We certainly see an opportunity to find a basis for constructive negotiations. We hope to discuss this issue calmly,” the EVG statement said. The railway company accepted the offer to negotiate in the evening. “We hope from this conversation that EVG will show the compromises they can make that will lead to a collective bargaining agreement,” a spokeswoman said.
The railway initially refused to negotiate further and submit a new offer, citing the attitude of the union. EVG stubbornly stuck to its original request, unwilling to compromise, says Human Resources Director Martin Seiler. Negotiations are “pointless”.
A union spokesman rejected the statement. It is clear that the initial demands in collective bargaining will not ultimately match the outcome. But more movement is needed in wages, especially for low earners.
The problem is Contract period
The union is negotiating with Deutsche Bahn and 50 other companies in the industry over wages and salaries for a total of around 230,000 employees. The focus is on negotiations with Deutsche Bahn, where around 180,000 employees work. The key sticking points now are the duration of collective agreements and whether wages and salaries will be increased by a percentage or fixed.
The unions demand a fixed amount of at least 650 euros per month or 12% of the higher wage earners. According to their ideas, the term of office should be one year.
In negotiations at the end of May, the railways gradually committed to providing 12% of wages for low-wage groups. The middle group should earn 10% more in total, while the higher group should get 8% more. The first phase of growth is expected later this year. In addition, there will be a progressive inflation compensation totaling 2,850 euros, payable tax-free and tax-free from July onwards. The term of office shall be two years. EVG declined the employer offer.