Warning strike in Frankfurt: Under-Bahnen stand still-the employees are demanding more!

Warning strike in Frankfurt: Under-Bahnen stand still-the employees are demanding more!

On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, there was a comprehensive warning strike in the public service in Frankfurt. The Verdi union called on the employees to work to fight for better working conditions and salaries. Verdi calls for a salary increase of eight percent or at least 350 euros more per month. Trainees and interns are also expected to receive 200 euros more. In addition, the union demands three additional days off. FR.DE reports that the strike measures affect not only Frankfurt, but also urban employees in Offenbach and other municipalities in the regions Main-Taunus-Kreis, Hochtaunuskreis and Wetteraukreis involved. The measure represents a reaction to the stagnant collective bargaining with the federal government and municipalities.

On the strike day, most subway and tram lines in Frankfurt remained. Around 5,500 employees in Hesse took part in the actions, and Verdi spokesman Mathias Venema asked for understanding and referred to alternative transport offers such as S-Bahn and buses. Nine out of ten subway and tram lines remained in the depot, while massive failures were also expected in the daycare centers and other public services. hessenschau.de

demonstration and rally

The strikes gathered in the Frankfurt trade union house and started a demonstration train to the main guard. The final rally was scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Around 3,500 employees took part in this campaign in Frankfurt, whereas the police estimated the number of participants to 2,300. Protests also took place in other cities such as Darmstadt and Wetzlar in which several thousand people showed their solidarity.

The pressure on the employer increases because the second round of the collective bargaining will take place on February 17 and 18, 2025 in Potsdam. The third round of negotiations is also scheduled for the period from March 14 to 16, 2025. Verdi also leads the negotiations for other unions such as GdP, GEW, IG Bau and the DBB Tarifunion. Oeffterer-dienst-news.de

background and outlook

The current collective bargaining are more necessary than ever, since around 500,000 jobs in the public service remain vacant and the cost of living continues to increase. The unions not only require salary increases, but also higher surcharges for stressful activities as well as the introduction of a "my-time account" for more flexible working hours. In general, there is another pressure on the public service to make it more attractive and to counteract the lack of personnel.

In the first round of negotiations at the end of January 2025, there was no agreement, the existing collective agreement expires at the end of 2024. An incident in Munich, in which a car drove into a demo train and injured 28 people, also shows how explosive the current situation is, which is pursued by the unions and the public equally. fr.de