Risk of strike: Verdi announces the outstanding of the public service!

Risk of strike: Verdi announces the outstanding of the public service!

On February 14, 2025, the Verdi union calls for a comprehensive strand in the Rhein-Sieg district and in Bonn. This strike affects a large number of employees who work for the federal and municipalities and could have far -reaching effects on the public service. As ksta.de , up to 2.5 million employees are affected, including employees of municipal transport companies, the garbage collection.

The strip will start on Friday morning at 3 a.m. and take to Saturday until the end of the night. The transport companies such as RSVG, Rhenag and Rhein-Sieg-Netz in Siegburg as well as the RSAG with locations in Troisdorf, Hennef, Siegburg, Sankt Augustin, Eitorf and Swisttal remain largely in their depots during this period. Numerous other institutions, including the Bonn Stadtwerke and federal authorities, are also affected.

claims of the union

The demands of the strikers are clearly formulated. Verdi demands a wage increase of 8 % or at least 350 euros more per month. Furthermore, surcharges for particularly stressful activities are to be raised. Christine Behle, deputy ver.di chairman, calls on the employer to submit an improved offer and warn of a significant expansion of the strikes if this is not fulfilled. As reports tagesschau.de , the collective bargaining dispute in the public service is tense and the next round of negotiation will take place on February 17th and 18th in Potsdam.

In addition to the demands for wage increases, the union would like to be granted more free time to employees. Three additional free days are required, four for union members. These measures can also be seen against the background of the current lack of personnel in the public service: around 500,000 employees are already missing, and 1.4 million employees will retire in the next ten years.

context of the strike actions

The current strand is part of a larger conflict of tariffs that has already led to strikes in the public service in recent years. In 2023, similar warning strikes buses, railways and planes were largely paralyzed. A difficult exchange is expected during the upcoming negotiations, since employers consider high demands to be “disproportionate”. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described this collective bargaining round as challenging, but expresses itself optimistically in terms of an agreement.

At the planned rally in Bonn, which is due to start at 12 p.m. at the central bus station, the strikers will loudly underline their demands. Other affected projects also include the LVR Clinic in Bonn and the Bonn Student Center. In order to further mobilize the supporters, Verdi provides to take the word and present the central concerns. The mobilization and the will of the employees to stand up for their rights are considered crucial for the outcome of the negotiations.

The second collective round, which takes place on February 17th and 18th, remains of great importance for the future of employees in the public service. In view of the increasing cost of living and insufficient payment in many areas, the strike offers a platform to draw attention to the urgent problems. Mobilization by warning strikes could expand beyond the current events, which the employers presents with additional challenges.