Collective bargaining - Südwestmetall criticizes trade unions for demands
The head of the employers' association Südwestmetall, Joachim Schulz, has criticized employee representatives for relying on the legislator for help with collective agreements. "Trade unions make it far too easy for themselves when they call on the legislator to increase collective bargaining coverage through coercive measures," Schulz told the German Press Agency in Stuttgart.
DGB state head Kai Burmeister had recently accused employers of collective bargaining evasion and a lack of collective bargaining coverage. Burmeister called on the state government to implement the reform of the State Collective Agreement and Minimum Wage Act provided for in the coalition agreement. Regional collective agreements should be made the benchmark for public procurement. The DGB also called for public contracts and subsidies to generally only be awarded to companies that apply collective agreements.
"An alarm signal"
According to the Südwestmetall boss, the significant decline in collective bargaining coverage in recent decades is not satisfactory for either side, trade unions or employers. "It is an alarm signal," said Schulz.
However, the judgmental term "collective bargaining flight" leads to a false picture, said Schulz. There is no obligation in Germany to be bound by collective agreements. The collective bargaining partners should concentrate on structuring collective agreements in such a way that they bring advantages for both sides. For example, regulations should be avoided or removed that cause considerable effort when implemented in companies.
In recent years, however, trade unions have often forced through regulations that are attractive for employees, but which more and more employers perceive as disadvantageous. As a result, employers are moving away from collective bargaining, as Schulz said.
"Emotional resistance from employers"
"If, in some cases, trade union officials also tend to stir up conflict in companies, this often triggers emotional resistance from employers," said Schulz. Unfortunately, the many advantages of collective bargaining are pushed into the background.
According to the employers' association, around 525,000 people are currently employed in the metal and electrical industry in Baden-Württemberg in just under 700 companies covered by collective agreements. This puts collective bargaining coverage at around 55 percent - a far cry from the highs of more than 80 percent in the 1970s.
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Source: www.stern.de
