After the cancelled warning strike, there is movement in the wage dispute at Deutsche Bahn. On Wednesday, the negotiators of EVG and Deutsche Bahn are once again looking for a way out of the impasse.
Berlin – Great relief for rail customers at the weekend: The 50-hour strike was canceled at short notice after a settlement. On Wednesday, the negotiators of Deutsche Bahn and the EVG union will meet for further talks in the wage dispute to find a way out. Both sides had previously agreed on confidentiality about the location and exact time. According to the railway, the talks are to be prepared for the next official round of collective bargaining next week in Fulda.
EDC: "If we get stuck at the negotiating table, we will have to go on strike"
In a settlement before the Frankfurt Labor Court last weekend, the collective bargaining parties were able to largely eliminate a sticking point on the subject of the minimum wage. The railway and transport union (EVG) had then cancelled an announced 50-hour warning strike at short notice. Nevertheless, the two sides are still far apart in terms of demand and supply.
Demonstrators of the railway and transport union (EVG) stand with posters in front of Bremen's main train station. © Sina Schuldt/dpa
In its negotiations with Deutsche Bahn and dozens of other railway companies, the EVG wants to enforce, among other things, 650 euros more per month or 12 percent for the upper incomes, with a term of 12 months. In addition to an inflation compensation premium, Deutsche Bahn has so far promised percentage increases of a total of 10 percent for lower and middle incomes and 8 percent for upper incomes. The Group envisages a term of 27 months.
"Of course, we are sticking to the demands, it's about taking a big step forward in the entire industry," said negotiator Cosima Ingenschay on Wednesday in the ZDF "morning magazine". Although the EDC hopes for movement at the negotiating table, it does not rule out a new industrial dispute either. "If we get stuck at the negotiating table, we will have to go on strike. This is the last resort," Ingenschay said on ZDF.
Dispute over minimum wage between EVG and Deutsche Bahn
Despite several rounds of collective bargaining, there have been no substantive talks on the concrete demands so far. The EDC first wanted to clarify the issue of the minimum wage. So far, around 2000 employees have only received this through allowances. However, the union wanted to retroactively include the statutory minimum wage, currently 12 euros per hour, in the wage scales, so that all future agreements can refer to this higher base.
In the meantime, Deutsche Bahn has agreed to this. However, even after the settlement before the Labour Court in Frankfurt, the EVG still needs to discuss some details. It is possible that this will be discussed further this Wednesday. However, both sides did not initially say anything about the content. The official next round of negotiations at Deutsche Bahn is scheduled for May 23 and 24 in Fulda. (lma/dpa)
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With material from AFP