Tariff dispute in the public service: daycare centers and airports stand still!

Tariff dispute in the public service: daycare centers and airports stand still!

The public service in Germany is again at the center of a tariff dispute. Air traffic is paralyzed, daycare centers are closed and the garbage disposal is missing. All of these effects are clearly shown during the current collective bargaining in Potsdam, which will go into their third round on March 14, 2025. These negotiations are concerned with the concerns of over 2.5 million employees of the municipalities and the federal government, which work in areas such as administration, schools, daycare centers and public transport. The unions Verdi and DBB require a tariff increase of 8 % or at least 350 euros more per month.

These claims are enriched by the unions with an additional concern, namely the increase in training allowances and internship fees for 200 euros per month and the introduction of three additional days off a year. In contrast, employers have not made any offer in the previous negotiating rounds and fear that the claims could cause additional costs of almost 15 billion euros annually. This is reported radiherford.de

challenges in the negotiations

The situation is also burdened by a volatile economic situation and the upcoming Bundestag election campaign. Verdi and DBB have declared that the claims should also include a transfer to civil servants in order to improve working conditions sustainably. At the same time, employers warn that the economic situation of the municipalities does not enable these demands to be fulfilled. The oeffenter-dienst-news.de emphasizes that the unions point out the lack of personnel and the high workload and therefore urgently need improvements.

The negotiations are already shaped by a warning strike on February 20, 2025, which spoke to the participation of 2.3 million employees in the municipalities and the federal government. The strike followed an unsuccessful second round of negotiations, which took place on February 17th and 18th. The incident in Munich caused a special concern in Munich, in which a vehicle drove into a group of demonstrators, which led to at least 28 injuries.

current status and outlook

The negotiations in Potsdam could be extended if a compromise is in sight. The employers' association, the VKA, expresses concerns about financial burdens. However, the unions emphasize the need to introduce better remuneration, surcharges for stressful activities and more flexible working hours. An attempt to settle could take place in the next round of negotiations in January 2025, also in view of the upcoming Bundestag election, which increases the pressure on everyone involved.

parallel to the negotiation of the public service collective agreements, there are also regulations for the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L), which will come into force on February 1, 2025. This contract ensures an increase in income of 5.5 percent, which will further influence the public discussion. These negotiations affect 15 of the 16 federal states, while Hessen is covered by the collective agreement for Hesse (TV-H). Details on the remuneration sets are also important because they are crucial for the upcoming discussions and the negotiations for TVöD 2025, for which a total of up to 2.8 million people in Germany will benefit. oeffenter-dienst-news.de .