BVG Submits Initial Offer in Wage Talks with Verdi – Strike Looms?
Berlin, April 18 – The Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has submitted its first offer in the current collective bargaining round with the Verdi trade union. The details of the offer have not been disclosed to the public, and Verdi has remained silent on the proposal. This development follows a series of two-day discussions between the parties in Berlin, which concluded on Thursday, March 5.
Verdi Remains Tight-Lipped on BVG Offer
Neither the BVG nor Verdi has revealed the precise content of the initial offer. The BVG stated that further topics would be intensively negotiated based on this first proposal. Key issues on the agenda include vacation days, holiday pay, minimum rest periods, shift lengths, turnaround times, and split shifts.
Verdi’s lack of immediate comment leaves open the question of their satisfaction with the offer. The union had previously called for warning strikes, which led to a near-complete halt of public transport in the capital. It is currently unknown whether Verdi will respond with further industrial action.
Focus on Working Conditions, Not Just Wages
The current negotiations are primarily focused on improving working conditions rather than solely on salary increases. These conditions are laid down in the so-called framework collective agreement (Manteltarifvertrag). The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 19 and 20.
The employee side is demanding more vacation days, a minimum rest period of eleven hours between shifts, and increased holiday pay with the option to convert it into additional days off. They also seek longer turnaround times on all lines, which refers to the time drivers have at the end of a route before starting in the opposite direction.
High Cost Implications of Union Demands
The BVG had previously urged the union to prioritize its demands more effectively. According to the employer’s assessment, the union’s demands represent a total personnel cost volume of over 150 million euros per year.
The outcome of these negotiations will significantly impact both the BVG’s operational costs and the working lives of its employees, as well as potentially affecting public transport services for Berlin residents.
