Marching separately, striking together – the Verdi and EVG unions are now taking advantage of Field Marshal Moltke’s tactics. Although they are in separate collective bargaining disputes, they are calling on the workers to take part in industrial action in order to largely paralyze traffic in Germany. With relatively little effort, they unfold the greatest possible effect.
This is legal, because both unions are demanding more money from employers for the employees, so they are advocating a goal that can be regulated by collective agreements, for which strikes can then also be held. But is it legit?
Not really. There are now offers on the table both in the collective bargaining conflict in the public sector and in the railway sector. Even if these are still a long way from the union demands, it is exaggerated to take half the republic hostage now.
The real reason for the tough approach is quickly revealed: The trade unions want to win members and stop the shrinking course that seems unstoppable. Employee representatives call it “organizing in conflict”. Verdi boss Frank Werneke himself proudly announced that this has worked well so far this year.
In addition, tactical considerations are likely to play a role for both unions. At Verdi, the delegates meet in September for the national congress, which takes place every four years. Werneke and his deputy chief Christine Behle, who is responsible for public service and transport, are likely to stand for re-election there. A decent collective bargaining result can do just as little harm as a solid membership balance.
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The EVG, with its still relatively new leadership, is trying to score points in the power struggle with its arch-rival, the much smaller train drivers’ union GDL. Its boss, Claus Weselsky, likes to mock the EVG as the “loyal in-house union” of the railways, which agrees to cheap wage agreements.
The GDL begins its collective bargaining in autumn, when the EVG wants to present a proper conclusion that can also be used as a blueprint for collective agreements in around 50 train and bus companies, for which the EVG has raised largely identical content demands.
It will not be easy for employers to resist this “concerted action” by employee representatives. Especially since the employees in the public sector and on the railways have made a lot of sacrifices with the last crisis wage agreements and inflation is still high. “March separately, strike together” could ultimately pay off for the unions.
More: Civil Servants Association boss Ulrich Silberbach on the 15 percent collective bargaining demand: “The cost of living has risen dramatically”