Berlin In the collective bargaining dispute at Deutsche Bahn, the group reacted with incomprehension to the rejection of its latest offer by the railway and transport union (EVG). “The union shows no concessions and makes no proposals for solutions. She simply stubbornly insists on her initial requirements,” criticized DB HR Director Martin Seiler.
In its statement on Wednesday night, Deutsche Bahn rejected further negotiations. “That’s pointless at the moment because the electronic ballast doesn’t move a millimeter,” Seiler was quoted as saying. The company now wants to “comprehensively assess the overall situation” and discuss further steps in the responsible committees.
The EVG had rejected the group’s recently improved offer late Tuesday evening as insufficient and called on the employer side for further negotiations in Berlin this Wednesday.
EVG on railway wage dispute: Offer “socially unfair”
“Essential points of our demands have still not been met,” said negotiator Kristian Loroch. “What is currently on the table is socially unfair.” Further negotiations are in the interest of the group, “because as long as we sit at the negotiating table, there will be no strikes”. Whether there will be further warning strikes depends on the next few days.
The railway had submitted the current offer at the most recent round of negotiations last week in Fulda. It includes the following possible salary increases:
- gradually twelve percent for the lower wage brackets
- The middle groups should get a total of ten percent more
- the upper groups are to receive eight percent.
The first stage of the increase should therefore be implemented this year. In addition, there is also a gradual inflation compensation premium totaling 2850 euros, which could be paid tax- and duty-free from this July. The term is 24 months.
“Essential points of our demands have still not been met.”
(Photo: dpa)
The railways have made further concessions to the EVG, but the two sides are still far apart: the union is demanding a fixed amount of at least 650 euros per month more or twelve percent for the upper wage groups. According to their ideas, the term should only be twelve months. EVG has so far strictly rejected one-off payments.
Further warning strikes or even a ballot that could result in indefinite strikes are therefore not off the table. The EVG has already twice called for warning strikes in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute, which has largely brought rail traffic in Germany to a standstill.
The union canceled a third planned 50-hour warning strike at short notice after reaching a settlement with the railways before the Frankfurt labor court in one of the negotiating sticking points.
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