Public sector: warning strikes not ruled out
Warning strikes are also not ruled out in Hesse after the start of collective bargaining for the public sector on February 14, 2024. "That could happen if the state does not make concessions," said a spokeswoman for the service union Verdi in Frankfurt on Thursday.
Hesse is the only federal state that is not a member of the employers' association Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL). The wage negotiations for the approximately 45,000 state employees in Hesse, for example in road maintenance, forestry, courts and prisons, are therefore being conducted independently. Negotiations at the TdL have been ongoing since October.
According to an announcement on Thursday, the Hessian trade unions have now also agreed their demands for a term of twelve months: an additional 500 euros gross per month, but at least 10.5 percent more - as well as an additional 260 euros gross per month for trainees. By 2025, 35 percent of academic and artistic employees should also receive a permanent employment contract. Student assistants are to be included in the collective agreement of the state of Hesse.
The lead negotiator for the trade unions, Christine Behle, explained: "These demands are justified because we have been experiencing an enormous price increase for two years, which has not been nearly offset by the previous collective wage agreements."
Thilo Hartmann, Chairman of the Hesse Education and Science Union (GEW), emphasized that a significant wage increase was "also necessary so that the state of Hesse can survive on the labor market in the future. Take schools, for example: According to our calculations, there will be a shortage of around 12,000 trained teachers in Hesse by 2030."
The Hessian Ministry of the Interior told the German Press Agency: "The state government has taken note of the demands of the Hessian trade unions regarding the Hessian tariff and will first examine their impact on the state budget in the coming years." The aim is "to achieve a good and viable solution for all parties involved, as in previous collective bargaining rounds". A concrete offer from the state is therefore not yet available.
In the context of the ongoing collective bargaining for public sector employees in Hesse, federal states like those belonging to Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) may be closely watching the trade unions' demands and potential outcome, as tariffs and wage adjustments in one region could influence negotiations elsewhere in Germany. Should the Hessian state fail to make concessions, it could face strikes from Federally-aligned trade unions, potentially leading to disruptions in public services.
Source: www.dpa.com
