As of: April 6, 2024, 10:21 a.m
Comments
Press
Split
"We are worth it." can be read on a plastic Verdi vest hanging on the barrier of an MVB depot. © Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa
There was a threat of long-term strikes in local transport in Saxony-Anhalt - these have now been averted. The collective bargaining parties have reached an agreement in the negotiations. What does this look like?
Magdeburg - The tariff conflict in local public transport in Saxony-Anhalt has been resolved. This averts further strikes. Many bus and tram drivers will receive more money in the next few months. The Verdi union and the Saxony-Anhalt Municipal Employers' Association reached an agreement in collective bargaining on Saturday night, as both collective bargaining parties confirmed.
“For an experienced bus driver, this means an increase of 485 euros per month - plus inflation compensation money,” Verdi negotiator Paul Schmidt told the German Press Agency on Saturday. Specifically, the fees are to be increased by 4 percent on August 1, 2024 and by a further 7.5 percent on May 1, 2025. In 2024, inflation compensation of 2,500 euros will also be paid to employees.
Furthermore, the surcharge for shared services is to be doubled and a surcharge for Saturday work is to be introduced. According to the information, trainees will receive a monthly salary increased by 150 euros from September 1, 2024.
“For local public transport companies in Saxony-Anhalt, this collective agreement is at the limit of what is economically justifiable. It was a painful compromise,” explained the managing director of the municipal employers’ association, Diana Häseler-Wallwitz.
“We are satisfied with that,” said Schmidt about the result. Employees in Magdeburg, Halle, Dessau-Roßlau and the Burgenland district benefited from the agreement.
“For passengers, the agreement means that there will be no further strikes in local transport,” said Häseler-Wallwitz. Verdi confirmed this. However, the members still had to be consulted about the agreement, said Schmidt. There will definitely be no labor disputes in the next few weeks.
The drawn-out negotiations had threatened long-term strikes in local transport. According to Verdi, in a strike vote before the negotiations on Friday, almost 98 percent of the participating union members were in favor of longer-lasting strikes in parts of the country. Since the beginning of the year, local transport in parts of Saxony-Anhalt has been on strike several times. dpa