Collective bargaining with the EVG failed on Wednesday evening.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin Indefinite strikes with numerous train cancellations may still threaten the railways in the summer. The federal board of the railway and transport union (EVG) decided on Thursday in Berlin to let the members decide in a ballot, the EVG announced at noon. The passengers of Deutsche Bahn and also the competing companies could face restless weeks.
On Wednesday evening, the collective bargaining committee of the EVG declared the collective bargaining with Deutsche Bahn to have failed. She justified the demolition by saying that the salary increase offered by the railways – according to dpa information 420 euros a month – was too low and too late. The planned contract period of 27 months is “significantly too long,” it said.
“We will now start preparing for the ballot, with all the associated consequences. This makes indefinite strikes possible,” said EVG boss Martin Burkert. “We are still willing to negotiate.” In order to come to a conclusion, Deutsche Bahn now has to “do it properly”.
“We’re not asking for the impossible. It is our colleagues who ensure that buses and trains run every day despite all the adversities for which they are not responsible and rightly expect appropriate payment for this,” said Burkert.
In view of the still high inflation, the employees expected a strong wage increase “immediately”. “In a first step, however, DB AG did not want to pay more than 200 euros more and that was only in December.” That was too little and too late. “It is absolutely clear that we will not enforce our claim in full, but we want to come close,” said Burkert.
EVG requirement: 650 euros more per month with a 12-month term
The organization of the ballot will take a few weeks. However, it cannot be ruled out that the EVG will put pressure on the employers’ side with temporary warning strikes.
The wage conflict has been going on since the end of February. The EVG entered the talks with the aim of increasing the fixed amount by at least 650 euros per month or twelve percent for the upper wage brackets. According to their ideas, the term should be one year.
According to its own information, the railways recently promised a high fixed amount, an inflation compensation premium of 2850 euros and far-reaching structural improvements for a 27-month term of the collective agreement.
Passengers’ holiday plans at risk
As a result of the board decision on Thursday, the summer holidays in several federal states could now be disrupted by long strikes. The holidays have already begun in North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Lower Saxony, Bremen and Saxony-Anhalt on July 6th.
At the beginning of the current week, the EVG surprised with collective bargaining agreements at some private railways, in which wage increases of 420 euros in several stages, a term of mostly 21 months and 1000 to 1400 euros inflation compensation premium were agreed.
However, the EUR 650 more per month with a twelve-month term initially demanded by these railway companies had obviously raised high expectations: the agreements were the subject of heated debate among the members of the EVG.
More: EVG breaks off negotiations with Deutsche Bahn – new strikes are imminent