Ver.di NRW has declared collective bargaining for the approximately 30,000 employees in the municipal transport companies to have failed. Union members should now vote on indefinite strikes.
There is a threat of strikes in local public transport in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Verdi NRW union has declared collective bargaining over the working conditions of around 30,000 employees in the municipal transport companies to have failed, as Verdi local transport expert Peter Büddicker told the German Press Agency on Tuesday.
He accused the employers of a lack of accommodation. “We will initiate a strike vote,” said Büddicker. A decision will be made about indefinite strikes.
Verdi is calling for additional days off for employees transport companies
The third round of negotiations in the collective bargaining dispute began in Dortmund on Monday. Tuesday was originally scheduled for this. Before the meeting, Verdi explained that the positions of the collective bargaining parties were still far apart. In recent weeks, the union has largely paralyzed local public transport in the most populous federal state with several warning strike calls for one or two days each. In doing so, she wanted to increase the pressure on employers.
Among other things, Verdi is calling for additional days off to relieve the burden on staff and make the jobs more attractive. She called for an offer from employers for the third round of negotiations. In recent weeks, the employers’ association KAV NRW has pointed to tight financial flexibility and a significant salary increase from March 1st, which was agreed a long time ago. The association had stated that it was aiming for a conclusion at the two-day meeting as part of an overall package.
Our sources: