Debate about one-off payments: Not another Scholz flash in the pan

The fact that the Chancellery wants to set wage guidelines for the unions with its push for one-off payments to combat inflation is haphazard and would only aggravate the situation.

Ironically, a Federal Chancellor of the SPD wants to set wage guidelines for the unions with his proposal for one-off payments. He rightly has to let them tell him that collective bargaining in Germany is not conducted in the Chancellery.

It’s not just tradition. It is also good that the responsibility for decent wages and salaries lies with unions and employers. Specifications from the Chancellery make the upcoming difficult collective bargaining more difficult than they make it easier.

A one-off payment is quickly eaten up

In addition, one-off payments are a questionable measure in times of record inflation. A one-off payment is quickly eaten up, but the prices remain permanently high. The payments would be just as flash in the pan as Scholz’s tank discount. Billions expensive, but the relief quickly fizzles out.

One-time payments are not included in wage tables, they are not dynamically adjusted and it does not even help with pension entitlements. For the unions, which are ready to fight because of the high inflation, it would be a dangerous game to accept Scholz’s proposal. Even today, only 43 percent of employees are covered by collective agreements.

Members rightly expect their unions to keep their incomes competitive with rising prices. If employees no longer feel they are sufficiently represented, a hot autumn threatens wildcat strikes. Then the chancellor would have dismantled himself a bit further with his renewed haphazard morsel of relief.