Anyone who goes on strike is entitled to strike money, provided that they are part of a union.
But be careful: Strikes have a negative impact on your pension entitlement.
Despite or perhaps because of the Corona crisis *, there is steam and boiling in public transport, in hospitals, daycare centers and nursing homes.
The pressure and workload have increased for many workers.
So far there has not been more money for the indispensable pillars of our society.
The
ver.di
union
has therefore
called
for
nationwide work
stoppages in various areas of the public service
.
The
labor strike
is part of German culture and is firmly anchored.
Employees are allowed to stop their work in order to enforce certain claims against the employer.
Whether a
wage increase
or
better working conditions
, a legal strike does not constitute a violation of the employment contract and must not be sanctioned by the employer.
However, the employment contract is suspended during a strike and the employer
pays no wages for this period
.
What else you need to consider in the event of a strike is summarized by
Lohnsteuerhilfe Bayern eV
.
For example, the strike can have a negative impact on your
pension entitlements
(see last paragraph).
Strike Money: How Much Do You Get?
Since the
strike
leads to a drop in wages, unions pay
strike money
for their members in
order to mitigate the loss of wages.
The amount of the strike fee is regulated in the statutes of the individual trade unions.
Usually it is calculated on the basis of the monthly membership fee, which in turn depends on gross earnings.
For example, the GDL paid
100 euros per day of strike
to its associated train drivers.
Strike money: that's why it's tax-free
Strike money is neither an
income
nor a
wage replacement
benefit
such as
unemployment benefit
.
Therefore, strike money does not have to be declared in income tax.
There are no taxes on it and no social security contributions are levied on it.
Furthermore, in contrast to the
wage replacement benefits
, it is not subject to the progression
proviso
,
i.e.
it does not increase the tax on the other income.
Strikers who do not belong to any trade union, however,
get nothing when it comes to strike money
.
Find out more
: Tax return: This is how you can deduct moving costs and get a lot of money back.
Tax return: is it possible to deduct expenses for a strike?
Since
strike money is
not taxed,
no costs
incurred by participating in a strike
can be deducted from income tax
.
For example, travel costs to the scene of the strike, additional meals or costs for work materials, such as for signs or banners, are not advertising costs.
Only the
monthly union membership
fee can be claimed against income tax.
Strikes have a negative impact on your pension rights
During a lawful strike
, insurance cover is retained in the statutory health or long-term care insurance
.
The contributions to the statutory unemployment and pension insurance
do
not apply, so that strikes
reduce pension entitlements to a small extent
.
As a rule, entitlement to unemployment benefits is not affected.
However,
unemployment benefits
can
not be applied for
during a strike
, as the employment contract is only suspended but remains in effect.
Also read
: Tax return: did you provide incorrect information?
You have to do this now.
Video: Bus, train and day-care center - This is how Tuesday's strike (09/29/2020) went in Bavaria
Compact tax return: amendments, deadlines and submit retrospectively
Compact tax return: amendments, deadlines and submit retrospectively