Tariff dispute in the public service: Arbitration starts after a failed attempt!

Tariff dispute in the public service: Arbitration starts after a failed attempt!

The collective bargaining dispute in the public service has proven to be persistent for the time being despite intensive negotiations. Over 2.5 million employees are affected, and the third round of negotiations, which took place in Potsdam, brought no result. These negotiations, which lasted four days, ended without agreement, which led to the Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) ordered an arbitration. Independent arbitrators should now find a solution, while warning strikes are excluded during this time. The unions Verdi and the DBB have decided to criticize this arbitration announcement and are disappointed with the course of the negotiations.

The last round of negotiations in which the tariff parties faced each other had a volume of around 15 billion euros on the table for the next two years. The unions originally claimed a tariff increase of 8 percent or at least 350 euros more per month and three additional days off. In turn, employers offered a 5.5 percent salary increase, and there should also be a higher 13th monthly salary and improved layer allowances. The core topic remains the demand for additional days off, which employers only propose in the form of an election model. This contributes to the complexity of the negotiations and highlights the potential consequences for public services.

dispute and real wage losses

The topic of real wage losses that arose as a result of the corona crisis and the energy price crisis is the focus of the arising conflict. Tariff expert Hagen Lesch emphasizes that the demands of the unions represent more wages for more wages and leisure. An additional challenge is the financing of higher salaries that would have to result from taxpayers or debts. This could lead to cuts in public services or higher fees, which makes the agreement all the more urgent.

The arbitration should begin within the next three days and are expected to be completed in early April. During this time, there is an obligation to peace, which excludes the possibility of other warning strikes that already had practical effects in numerous sectors such as clinics, daycare centers and airports. Ultimately, the unions and employers have to find solutions that meet the needs of the employees, while they at the same time maintain operational continuity in public services.

On the arbitration board, Roland Koch (CDU) were named for the employer and Hans-Henning Lühr for the employee side. This arbitration is an attempt to get the stuck negotiations going again and to reach an agreement that meets the needs of all pages.

Overall, the collective bargaining dispute remains a challenge for around 2.5 million employees and not only raises questions about wage development, but also about the financial resources of the public service. The coming days will be decisive for the development of these negotiations.