Tariff conflict in Berlin: BVG offers 15.3% wage increase!

Tariff conflict in Berlin: BVG offers 15.3% wage increase!

On February 2, 2025, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) made a new offer to adjust wages to the Verdi union. This offer provides for an average increase in wages of up to 15.3 percent for all employees and is structured in several steps. The increases of allowances for drivers and shift work, which are to be increased by up to 84 percent, are particularly striking. The duration of the offer extends to the end of 2028 to ensure both planning security and economic feasibility for the BVG.

The first wage increases should be effective retrospectively on January 1, 2025. An average increase of 6.9 percent is planned, while drivers can benefit from increases up to 8.5 percent. Future salary increases of 2.5 percent annually are also planned until the end of the term of the collective agreement. A next meeting for the negotiation is scheduled for February 11, 2025.

Detailed collective bargaining and claims

Although the BVG has taken a substantial step with these wage increases, the offer at Verdi is criticized. The union calls for a shorter term of only twelve months and believes that the wage increases offered will remain behind their own demands. In particular, it is noted that some allowances for shift work have not been adjusted for over two decades. In addition, a 13th monthly salary is missing in the offer as a Christmas bonus, which is important for many employees.

The negotiations have stalled in the past few weeks, which led to a warning strike that significantly impaired local public transport in Berlin. Verdi relies on the fact that the current offer can create a basis for constructive conversations and take into account both the interests of the employees and passengers.

Extensive context of the collective bargaining

The situation in the public service is also tense with regard to the upcoming collective bargaining for the federal and municipalities. These start in early 2025 and affect around 2.3 million employees. These negotiations are accompanied by high expectations regarding wages, with unions demanding an increase of 8 percent or at least 350 euros per month. In addition, you would like to have higher surcharges for stressful activities and additional vacation days for the employees.

The date of the first round of negotiations for the new collective agreement is scheduled for January 24, 2025. Here, too, the pressure can be felt due to the lack of staff and increasing cost of living. In the second round, which is planned for February 17 and 18, 2025, progress and a negotiable offer are expected from the unions, since the topic of workers and the quality of the public service are highly up.

The current collective agreement in the public service ends on December 31, 2024, which illustrates the urgency of an agreement. The challenges in this sector are important for both the BVG employees and for all employees in the various public service areas and illustrate the need for sustainable solutions.

Overall, the current collective bargaining is faced with complex challenges both in the area of ​​the BVG and in the public service, which can be directional for the future of employees.

For more information about the situation of the BVG and Verdi, visits Cityreport and rbb24 .