- Discussion forum on negotiated agreements in the exclusive bus transportation sector
Talks for a resolution in the salaries dispute within the private bus sector in Rhineland-Pfalz, involve employers, Verdi, and the state, all gathered at a table. The discussions held at the Ministry of Mobility in Mainz mainly revolve around the outcomes of mediation and particularly, the public transport index (ÖPNV-Index) in the state. This index is designed to alleviate rising costs for the industry, which also handles school transportation in major parts of Rhineland-Pfalz for local authorities.
Mediation Results
A new contract agreement is set to be implemented retroactively from January 1, 2024, lasting until the end of 2026 for over 4,000 employees. Bus drivers will receive a one-time payment of €2,000 in 2024 and a total inflation compensation of €1,500. This will be followed by a 5% wage increase from January 1, 2025, another 5% from January 1, 2026, and a further 5% from October 1, 2026. Wage increases are also agreed upon for employees in workshops and administration.
Go-ahead from Tariff Commissions
The two tariff commissions have already endorsed this proposal stemming from the mediation process, as announced by Verdi negotiator Marko Bärschneider. However, a signed contract agreement is yet to be finalized. The ÖPNV-Index's level and design are crucial factors in this process. Bärschneider remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached during the roundtable discussions.
Verdi: Index Not a Full Coverage Insurance
"Nonetheless, the index cannot serve as a comprehensive insurance for employers," Bärschneider cautioned against unrealistic expectations. Designed to mitigate exceptional burdens, this tool, used in other federal states, is primarily intended for this purpose. Heiko Nagel, managing director of the Association of Employers' Associations of the Transport Industry in Rhineland-Pfalz (VAV), had repeatedly emphasized during the wage dispute that without an ÖPNV-Index, average wage cost increases would only amount to approximately 2.5% for employees.
Strikes Persist
The ÖPNV is set to take effect from the beginning of the following year and will cover new contracts, encompassing a standard forecast for transport services. In other federal states, it incorporates energy prices, vehicle maintenance, and personnel wage costs. The state has pledged to introduce the ÖPNV-Index but has not participated in the negotiations. The discussions between employers and the union were repeatedly disrupted by protests and strikes.
The mediated outcome involves a new contract agreement with the employers, which will benefit over 4,000 employees in the private bus sector. Despite Verdi's cautions, the ÖPNV-Index is not intended to serve as a comprehensive insurance for employers, but rather a tool to mitigate exceptional burdens.
