Germany: Civil service pay talks begin
Union representatives for Germany’s nearly three million public service workers began mediation talks today with federal, state and municipal employers in the hope of reaching a deal to head off the first full-scale strike in a decade.
Two mediators directing the discussions expressed optimism an agreement could be reached, but the head of the powerful ver.di service worker’s union threatened on Friday a long and hard fight.
Saturday’s discussions were expected to focus on formalities, as the mediation talks, being held in the northern city of Bremen, are to be broken off over the New Year’s holiday and resumed on January 2. A result must be produced by January 6.
“The serious work begins after the New Year,” said mediator Hans Koschnick, a former mayor of Bremen, who acknowledged there are “hard-headed people on both sides” and the mediation could be very difficult.
Labour unions, who have already paralysed airports and public transport with a series of short stoppages, want a raise of more than 3% to prevent workers from rubbish collectors to opera employees from falling behind awards in other industries.
Cash-strapped federal, state and local employers, who initially sought a pay freeze, offered a complex package running through to June 2004 that would include a pay rise of 0.9 percent from January and a 1.2% increase from October next year.
If the mediation talks fail, the union will meet to vote on a wider strike action. Strikes are rare in Germany, but this year’s pay talks have been tough because of the economic slowdown and labour’s intention to make up for moderate increases in past years.
Public service workers haven’t carried out a major strike since 1992 when an 11-day stoppage left rubbish piled in the streets.
