VHH and ver.di Reach Agreement, Averting Strikes for Hamburg Port Festival
Hamburg, May 7 – Following extensive negotiations, the Verkehrsbetriebe Hamburg-Holstein (VHH) and the ver.di trade union have successfully concluded a new collective agreement. The breakthrough, announced on Wednesday evening, prevents further industrial action, including potential strikes that could have impacted the highly anticipated Hamburg Port Festival.
The agreement was reached after nine rounds of negotiations, which included several warning strikes and an ultimatum issued by ver.di. The core of the new collective bargaining agreement focuses on significant improvements in working conditions for VHH employees.
Key Terms of the Agreement
The new agreement outlines several key provisions:
- Working Time Reduction: The weekly working hours will be reduced from 39 to 38 hours in two stages, with full wage compensation.
- Limitations on Split Shifts: The maximum duration of split shifts will be capped at 13 hours.
- Increased Allowance for Split Shifts: The allowance for split shifts will increase to 15 euros.
- Earlier Night Surcharge: The night surcharge will now be paid from 9:00 PM, an hour earlier than the previous 10:00 PM start time.
- Contract Duration: The new contract will run until the end of 2029.
In addition to these terms, VHH has committed to paying all employees a relief bonus totaling 1,000 euros this year, disbursed in two installments.
“Noticeable Relief” for Employees
Irene Hatzidimou, ver.di’s chief negotiator for Hamburg, emphasized the significance of the agreement. “The result shows that even in times of massive attacks on working conditions, working time reductions and relief can still be enforced,” she stated. Sascha Bähring, her colleague from ver.di Nord, echoed this sentiment, describing the outcome as one that would gradually lead to noticeable relief for employees.
Both Sides Pushed to Their Limits
Britta Oehlrich, Managing Director of VHH, expressed satisfaction with the compromise. She acknowledged that both sides had found a solution together, “which takes into account both the challenging economic framework conditions and an improvement in working conditions for our employees.” Oehlrich added that she was pleased with the compromise, “in which both sides went to their limits.”
Strikes for Port Festival Averted
The agreement comes after a period of heightened tension. Following the eighth unsuccessful round of negotiations on April 27, ver.di had issued an ultimatum, demanding that VHH present a negotiable offer by May 3. Failure to do so would have resulted in renewed warning strikes, potentially coinciding with the Hamburg Port Festival. VHH primarily operates buses in the north and west of Hamburg, and a strike would have significantly impacted commuters in the Hamburg metropolitan area.
This resolution also follows an earlier agreement between Hamburger Hochbahn and ver.di at the end of March, which had already ruled out further strikes on the subway system.
This topic was broadcast on NDR 90.3 | NDR 90.3 Aktuell | 06.05.2026 | 06:00 AM.
Further news from Hamburg includes the government statement by Tschentscher advocating for the Olympic Games in Hamburg, the OMR Festival finale with Klum and Klingbeil attracting around 70,000 visitors, the relocation of a pro-Palestinian camp in Hamburg after criticism, and the cultural ship “MS Stubnitz” moving in autumn.
Source: NDR.de
