Public transport passengers in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area, in Krefeld and Bochum must expect significant restrictions on trams, subways and buses this Monday. Employees of the Rheinbahn at the depots in Düsseldorf-Benrath, Ratingen-Tiefenbroich and Mettmann as well as the Bogestra in Bochum (Weitmar depot) and the SWK mobil in Krefeld are stopping work all day, as Verdi NRW announced at short notice early on Sunday morning.
Therefore, cancellations and delays are to be expected on various lines of the companies on strike. The work stoppages should start with the early shift, which in some places begins around 1:30 a.m., said a Verdi spokeswoman in response to a dpa request. The union also announced the start of a fourth round of negotiations with employers on Monday in Dortmund. It was supposed to start in the morning at Dortmunder Stadtwerke DWS 21.
It’s about the working conditions of the approximately 30,000 employees in the municipal transport companies. Verdi NRW is calling, among other things, for additional days off in order to relieve the burden on staff and make the professions more attractive. The union spokeswoman said that the selective strikes on Monday would create “noticeable pinpricks” in order to increase the pressure on employers. The work stoppage should end with the late shift, and effects could last until after midnight. Further strike measures are also being planned in the next few days, which should be announced at short notice.
Verdi declared the negotiations on the general collective agreement to have failed after the third round of negotiations in mid-March and called for a strike vote on indefinite strikes. In this, 97 percent of the voting union members among employees were in favor of such a labor dispute, as Verdi NRW announced in the middle of the week.
The employer side submitted an improved offer in writing on Thursday. Among other things, it provides for up to four additional days off for certain groups of employees, as the municipal employers’ association KAV NW announced. In addition, employees who fill in for colleagues who are absent at short notice should receive a ten percent bonus. There should also be improvements in time allowances. The municipal employers’ association referred to a significant salary increase on March 1st, an extremely tense economic situation for local transport companies and a tight staffing situation.