In the collective bargaining dispute with the railways, the railway union EVG is threatening longer strikes than before. “The next strikes will last longer,” said negotiator Cosima Ingenschay of the Süddeutsche Zeitung (Friday edition). The EVG could “paralyze the train for weeks” if necessary.
The union is in a violent wage conflict with the railways and other train companies; Already last Friday and at the end of March, the EVG paralyzed rail traffic almost all over Germany for many hours.
The union accuses the employers of refusing an acceptable wage offer. “It’s the railways that are provoking the new strikes,” said Ingenschay. It is conceivable, for example, that the union would call different professional groups to go on strike in turn, such as train attendants and maintenance workers, or set different regional priorities.
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. The third round of negotiations failed on Wednesday. The next round is scheduled to take place at the end of May. (afp)
