Verdi members should vote on wage offers for dockworkers
The services trade union Verdi intends to let its members in German ports vote on the employers' offer in the ongoing wage dispute. The Federal Wage Commission is expected to make a decision based on the feedback at its meeting on August 22 and 23, Verdi announced in Berlin on Saturday. In the fourth round of negotiations, the employers proposed two potential solutions.
Verdi stated that the offer fell short of expectations. However, some of the demands made by the Central Association of German Port Industries (ZDS) were accepted. According to Verdi, the first offer variant, with a contract duration of twelve months, includes a tax- and duty-free inflation adjustment bonus of 1000 Euro. In addition, hourly wages would increase by 0.95 Euro as of January 1, 2025, along with higher shift allowances and a higher holiday pay equivalent to the first variant. The second variant had a duration of sixteen months and an inflation adjustment bonus of 1400 Euro. Hourly wages and shift allowances would also increase by 1.55 Euro, as well as holiday pay.
Verdi had previously put pressure on the employers with warning strikes, affecting the ports of Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Emden, and Brake. The ZDS stated that the offers would lead to significant real wage increases. "The offer is at the limit of affordability and poses significant challenges to the port companies economically," said ZDS negotiator Torben Seebold.
In the wage dispute, Verdi demanded a wage increase of three Euro per hour for over 10,000 employees in the ports as of June 1, 2024, along with corresponding adjustments to shift allowances. The union is aiming for a contract duration of twelve months.
During the speech session, Verdi-members discussed the employers' tariff offers in the Fourth round of negotiations. Despite some demands being accepted, Verdi-members were dissatisfied with the initial offer, leading to a potential impact on Harbor workers.
