The United Services Union (Verdi) has initiated a significant escalation in labor negotiations impacting public transport across all 16 German federal states. Union representatives delivered their demands for the upcoming wage round to nearly 150 municipal enterprises encompassing cities, districts and the state cities of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. This action signals a determination to overhaul working conditions within the vital sector.
A key element of Verdi’s strategy involves the termination of collective bargaining agreements (known as “Flächentarifverträge”) governing working conditions within public transport (ÖPNV) across 15 federal states. This move, coupled with the termination of in-house agreements at Hamburg’s Hochbahn and Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH), effectively clears the path for renewed and potentially more aggressive negotiations. In Brandenburg, Thuringia and Saarland, wage and salary discussions are also now open for renegotiation alongside working conditions.
“Attractive working conditions are a pivotal element for the future of public transport” stated Christine Behle, Verdi’s deputy chair, emphasizing the union’s concerns. The move highlights growing anxieties surrounding workforce retention within the public sector. Verdi is advocating for substantial improvements, including a reduction in weekly working hours, shorter shift durations, extended rest periods and increased premiums for night and weekend work.
While most municipal public transport entities operate under locally applicable “Nahverkehr” (local transport) collective bargaining agreements negotiated between Verdi and municipal employer associations, the synchronizing of the expiration dates for these “manteltarifverträge” (umbrella agreements) creates a powerful negotiating posture. The move suggests a willingness to challenge the existing framework, potentially creating ripple effects throughout the sector. The specific demands, while determined by local tariff committees for each state, collectively point to a concerted effort to fundamentally reshape the dynamics of employment within German public transport – a sector increasingly vital amidst a backdrop of rising costs and workforce shortages. Critics are watching to see if the move will trigger further industrial action and the potential impact on commuters already grappling with disruptions and fare increases.