Wage Talks for Public Transport Workers in Schleswig-Holstein Adjourned Without Agreement

The first round of wage negotiations for public transport employees in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, concluded without reaching an agreement. The Kommunaler Arbeitgeberverband Schleswig-Holstein (KAV.SH), representing the employers, pointed to the union Verdi's demand for a special annual payment of 650 Euros for its members as a primary obstacle.

The KAV.SH argued that such a payment would be against their statutes. "Regardless, we as employers make no distinction between union members and employees who are not unionized. Equal pay for equal work is, in our view, the fair and correct path," stated Jan Jacobsen, the managing director of KAV.SH.

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Regardless, we as employers make no distinction between union members and employees who are not unionized. Equal pay for equal work is, in our view, the fair and correct path.

Verdi is seeking a 6.5% wage increase for approximately 1,800 employees across public bus companies in Kiel, Lübeck, Flensburg, and Neumünster, with a contract duration of twelve months. The employers' association considers the overall demand too high. Verdi countered that employees have reliably performed their duties despite high workloads in recent years, ensuring the functioning of public transport, and argued this performance should be reflected financially. The negotiations are set to resume on September 3 in Kiel, with Verdi hoping for a concrete offer from the employers.

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We wish for a concrete offer in the next round of negotiations.