The president of the service workers’ union Verdi, Frank Werneke, has criticized Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) for his statements in the first government declaration. “The planned dilution of daily maximum working hours by introducing weekly maximum working hours under the headline ‘More Flexibility for Employees’ is a bad joke” said Werneke on Wednesday.
“This plan instead puts many people under massive pressure to work longer. It is poison for health. Already, many people in many sectors – such as logistics, care, or retail – suffer from excessive workload. Therefore, the call of the hour is not more strain, but more relief for employees” demanded the trade unionist.
Merz’s statement to strive for higher collective bargaining coverage found the approval of Verdi. “We therefore expect the adoption of a Federal Collective Bargaining Loyalty Act to become part of the 100-day program of the federal government” said Werneke.
Furthermore, he said: “That the Federal Chancellor believes a minimum wage of 15 euros per hour by 2026 to be achievable, possible and desirable is expressly welcomed – that he, however, excludes today the possibility of fixing this minimum wage legally if necessary, is wrong. It is an invitation to the employer representatives to go into deadlock in the minimum wage commission. The 15.00 euros must come – if necessary, through the legislator” urged the Verdi president.