According to the Institute of the German Economy, the expectation is that there will be many strikes at railways and kindergartens by March 14. “Now, massive one-day and multi-day strikes are on the horizon. We are facing a labor conflict that is being disguised under the label ‘warning strike'”, said IW tariff expert Hagen Lesch to the “Rheinische Post”. Those who will be affected are parents or commuters who cannot find childcare or have to switch to their cars and stand idly in traffic. The third round of negotiations for the 2.6 million employees of the federal and local governments begins on March 14.
Lesch referred to the unions’ demand for three additional free days: “Finding a compromise on the free days will be difficult. The power struggle between the negotiating parties has already begun and after the first round of negotiations, there were one-day strikes instead of the previously usual hour-long warning strikes”, the IW expert said.
Lesch can understand that the employers have not yet presented an offer: “It is not unusual for employers to wait until the third round to present an offer, especially when a union presents unrealistic demands. The three additional free days at full pay can be granted by the municipalities. As long as Verdi and DBB do not signal any willingness to compromise, it does not make sense for the employers to offer a pay increase from their perspective, as long as the unions do not show any willingness to compromise.