A grid blocks a subway station during a strike in local transport. © Lennart Preiss/dpa/Archivbild
Verdi and the Bavarian Employers' Association have reached an agreement in the collective bargaining dispute for local public transport. For the time being, no further strikes are likely to take place.
Munich - For weeks, Bavaria's public transport system has been at a standstill: After repeated strikes, employers and Verdi agreed on a new collective agreement in public transport on Thursday evening, May 25. Employees are to receive a tax-free inflation compensation of 3000,<> euros, as the municipal employers' association (KAV) of Bavaria announced on Friday.
According to KAV, the sum will initially be paid out with a one-time payment in June in the amount of 1240 euros. Until February 2024, there will be 220 euros per month. From March 2024, there will be a wage increase of at least 340 euros. Shift bonuses would also be increased and drivers could be better classified.
End of the strike wave: Agreement in the public transport collective bargaining strike
Employers' negotiator Magdalena Weigel expressed relief that no further strikes would take place at the expense of passengers. With the new collective agreement, a significant wage increase will take place and the profession of vehicle driver will become more attractive. The association hopes to be able to combat the high shortage of skilled workers.
(By the way: Our Bavaria newsletter informs you about all the important stories from the Free State. Sign up here.)
The union was also satisfied with the result. "We took advantage of the momentum of the Verdi strikes and were able to achieve a clearly improved offer," said the chief negotiator from Bavaria, Sinan Öztürk, according to the Verdi press release. "In some places, this result goes well beyond the state of the public service and thus also compensates to some extent for the long term until the end of 2024, which unfortunately could not be negotiated away."
Weeks of strikes – public sector had already reached an agreement
Previously, public transport employees in Bavaria had stopped work several times to fight for better wages: most recently last Friday, May 19. In Bavaria, local transport is not part of the public sector in the collective bargaining, for which an agreement had already been reached at the end of April. (elb/dpa)
You can always read all the news from all over Bavaria with us. News and stories from Bavaria can also be found on our Facebook page Merkur Bayern.
