labor union
Verdi wants shorter working hours in the public sector
Frank Werneke is federal chairman of the Verdi union. photo
© Bernd Wüstneck/dpa
The service union sees a need for action on working hours in the public sector – “also with a view to the attractiveness” of the jobs. Too many positions are vacant.
After the GDL railway union and IG Metall demanded shorter working hours with full wage compensation in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, the service union also wants this Verdi will address the issue soon.
“In the public sector we have longer working hours compared to the private sector, so there is definitely a need for action, also with a view to making the jobs more attractive,” said Verdi board chairman Frank Werneke to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ).
There are already around 300,000 unfilled positions and in some areas of the public service there are hardly any applicants left. In the coming year, “an extensive survey will be launched among members to find out their working time needs,” Werneke announced and reiterated: “I am sure that we will address the issue of working time in the next collective bargaining rounds, both for private service sectors and for the Employees in the municipalities and at the federal government will be taken up in the collective bargaining round that is due at the beginning of 2025.”