According to its own statements, the Verdi union has reached an agreement with the employers in the collective bargaining for employees in around 40 smaller train and bus companies.
The approximately 5,000 employees of the railway collective agreement (ETV) are to receive a tax-free one-off payment of 1,500 euros in June and a monthly salary of 300 euros more, as the union announced on Monday. The term is 18 months.
For trainees, the bargaining parties agreed a one-time payment of 750 euros and a salary increase of 150 euros.
This does not affect the dispute with Deutsche Bahn
“With the result, we have achieved a significant and rapid increase in fees,” explained Volker Nuss from Verdi. “In the lower and middle salary groups, it means an increase of 9.3 to 13 percent and thus the urgently needed relief in view of the high inflation”.
The trade unionist stressed the importance of two warning strikes, each involving more than 2,000 workers. “Without the massive pressure from the companies, this result would not have been possible,” Nuts explained.
The agreement in principle was reached on Friday, but the details are still being worked out, the union said.
Most of the companies affiliated with the ETV are regional or local public transport companies. Verdi’s collective bargaining partner is the employers’ association Deutsche Eisenbahnen.
The negotiations ran independently of those of the railway and transport union (EVG) with Deutsche Bahn and around 50 other transport companies.
This deadlocked collective bargaining dispute is about the payment of around 230,000 employees. For a period of twelve months, the EVG calls for wage increases of a total of twelve percent, but at least EUR 650 gross per month.
Above all, the employers offer a high one-off payment for a term of 27 months. Two warning strikes in March and April each led to massive nationwide disruptions to rail traffic. (AFP)
