Public service: agreement in sight

In collective bargaining in the public service of the federal government and municipalities it is after ARD-Information a breakthrough in sight. The top group of employers and unions is said to have come up with an agreement.

After two days of negotiation with no tangible result, collective bargaining for the public service lags behind ARD-Information has been advanced. Consequently, the top group of employers and unions came to a settlement proposal. Committees on both sides should discuss it that night.

Discussions on the compromise proposal in the federal collective bargaining commissions of ver.di and the public servants association dbb, as well as the general meeting of the Municipal Employers Association (VKA) will likely continue in the morning. Without the consent of these grassroots and municipal representatives, the proposal would fail in its current form. A press conference is scheduled for noon.

More strikes from the table?

This is the income of more than two million federal and municipal employees. If there were a breakthrough, new strikes in clinics, town halls or nurseries would be off the table. One of the points of conflict that until now has been on the negotiating table is the linear increase in income.

Ver.di and Beamtenbund are demanding 4.8 percent by the end of 2021, but at least 150 euros more per month. The original offer from the employer provided for a total of 3.5 percent more salary, but at least 30 euros more per month, in three annual stages until March 2023. Employers put the additional burden on public coffers due to their offer in a total of 4.8 billion euros over a three-year tariff period until 2023.