Public transport workers in Germany to go on strike

According to a statement made by the United Services Union (Ver.di), a call has been made for approximately 90 thousand employees at 130 companies to stage a walkout on Friday, February 2, due to the failure to reach an agreement in collective bargaining negotiations with public transport companies.

"IT IS TIME TO INCREASE THE PRESSURE"

Ver.di Deputy Chair Christine Behle stated that collective bargaining negotiations were being held in almost all states and that no results had been achieved, saying, "It is time to increase the pressure on employers."

Noting that there is immense pressure on public transport workers, Behle remarked, "Bus and train services are being canceled every day because there is not enough staff in all regions. Something must be done urgently to lighten the burden on employees."

Behle noted that demands were made during the negotiations to improve working conditions, but that employers did not want to meet these demands.

WORKERS' DEMANDS

The union's primary demands include improving working conditions such as reducing weekly working hours without pay cuts, increasing vacation days, and extending rest periods for shift and night workers; meanwhile, employees in the states of Brandenburg, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia are also demanding wage increases in addition to the improvement of working conditions.

In the state of Bavaria, employees will not go on strike as collective bargaining negotiations have not yet been held there.

News Source: AA