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Strike plans at private banks
Talks have broken off in collective bargaining for Germany’s private banks. Now the signs are on strike. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
New warning strikes instead of collective bargaining: the private banks are pointing to confrontation. The collective bargaining partners blame each other for breaking off the negotiations.
After the termination of collective bargaining for Germany’s private banks, strike preparations are underway at Verdi. “We started planning the strike last night,” said the union’s negotiator, Jan Duscheck, on Tuesday of the German Press Agency.
“We will certainly ramp up and expand the strikes in the coming weeks. Yesterday’s events caused great dissatisfaction with us and with our members.” The first industrial action could be taken in the coming week.
The fourth round of talks for 140,000 employees of private banks was broken off after a short time on Monday. The employers’ association of the private banking industry (AGV Banken) argued that Verdi had “built up additional insurmountable hurdles for a collective agreement”. For its part, the union accused the employers of not being willing to seriously negotiate the modified package of demands submitted by Verdi.
Slap after outstretched hand
“I’ve never seen an employer say he’s ready to continue talks at eye level, listen to the demands and then leave,” said Verdi Secretary Stefan Wittmann, who is also involved in the negotiations. «The employers came towards us with an outstretched hand and when we took it, we got a slap in the face. It will take confidence-building measures on the part of the AGV Banken to even recognize him as a serious discussion partner again.”
Verdi entered the negotiations on July 1 last year with a demand for 4.5 percent more money for 12 months. Verdi is now demanding a one-off payment of 1,500 euros for a term of 24 months, an increase in tariffs of 3.5 percent as of January 2022 and a further 2.5 percent as of January 2023, plus two additional vacation days.
“This is clearly a compromise offer well below our original demands,” emphasized Showereck. “My impression is that this whole maneuver by employers is designed to play for time and sit out inflation instead of facing it in salary negotiations.” Inflation rates have risen significantly in recent months. Higher wage settlements could cushion the loss of purchasing power for employees.