In Berlin, public transport riders are facing significant disruptions as the ongoing wage negotiations between Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) and the Verdi union have come to a halt. Verdi announced a 48-hour strike set for next Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 and 27, following the collapse of negotiations aimed at securing better pay for BVG employees.
Since mid-January, the two sides have been trying to hammer out a new collective agreement. Verdi is urging for a monthly salary increase of €750 for a one-year contract. In contrast, BVG’s latest offer proposed a staggered increment of €375 over 24 months. The proposals represent a significant gap that has led to tensions between the union, which has disrupted operations four times this year, and the transport company.
Verdi's negotiations have significantly impacted Berlin's public transport system, particularly with service interruptions occurring most recently on March 19 and 20. "The employer side bears responsibility for further labor conflicts," stated Verdi's negotiating leader, Jeremy Arndt. Amid the strife, BVG has expressed frustration with Verdi's insistence on continuing to strike rather than accept mediation. BVG's personnel director, Jenny Zeller-Grothe, emphasized that mediation could begin as early as next week, countering Verdi's destructive approach by saying, "It is incomprehensible why there has been no movement on Verdi's part."
The ongoing issues are not limited to Berlin; Frankfurt is also experiencing turmoil in its public transport system following recent warning strikes. As mentioned in a report by the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund (RMV), public transport cancellations and timetable changes are scheduled for March 27 through April 1, affecting both subway and tram services.
The disruptions stem from ongoing construction work and scheduled company meetings within the Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (VGF), adding additional stress to the local transport situation. The details reveal that five subway lines and four tram lines will be jeopardized, with significant service reductions expected. Lines U1 and Tram 14 will be completely suspended, while others like U3 and U5 will experience modified schedules.
Furthermore, coming shortly after a series of intense negotiations, the VGF has seen temporary strikes which have made commutes quite troublesome for the approximately 150,000 daily passengers. The calls for increased wages, more vacation days, and greater work hour flexibility from the Verdi union reflect a broader trend in labor unrest across various sectors.
Recently, a new negotiation date has been set for public transport employers in the region, following the union's earlier demands. Carola Freier, Managing Director of the Municipal Employers' Association of MV (KAV), indicated that this new date – March 28 – was proposed in response to the union's conditions to suspend strikes until March 30. "We still expect Verdi to negotiate with us in a constructive way to find a mutually agreeable compromise," she stated. However, a majority of Verdi members — over 94% among the 2,800 involved workers — have already voted in favor of an indefinite strike, suggesting that significant unrest may lie ahead.
The demands from Verdi including a €430 monthly wage increase and a €500 annual special payment represent a considerable financial obligation for municipal transportation authorities, which may find these demands untenable amidst ongoing economic constraints. Despite negotiations that include past increases and reductions in working hours, the demand for fundamental improvements in worker satisfaction remains strong.
Meanwhile, many workers express concern about the adequacy of recent wage increases, stating that the cost of living pressures necessitate further action. With unprecedented support for strike initiatives coming from labor union constituencies, it raises questions about stability within the public transportation sector in Germany.
The upcoming days will be crucial in determining whether mediators are able to successfully bridge the gap between the unions and transport authorities. As strikes loom, residents and commuters are bracing for potential disruptions that could continue to affect their daily routines.
