A collective bargaining conflict: Berlin receives a salary increase for BVG employees!

A collective bargaining conflict: Berlin receives a salary increase for BVG employees!

Treptow-Köpenick, Deutschland - After months of negotiations, the approximately 16,000 employees of the Berlin Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) have accepted a new collective agreement. The collective bargaining conflict, which has been three and a half months, has now been finally resolved after 65 percent of the members of the Verdi union voted in an end -of -vote for the offer. This approval was necessary to put the collective agreement into force, which should apply retrospectively from January 1, 2025.

Verdi negotiator Jeremy Arndt praised the result as "honest" and emphasized the intensive discussions within the workforce during the negotiations. This phase was shaped by warning strikes, which significantly impaired local transport in Berlin over a total of eight days. The union had originally requested an increase in the basic content of 750 euros per month, but it was agreed to an increase of 430 euros.

tariff details

The new collective agreement stipulates that the first increase of 380 euros will take place on June 1, 2023. Another plus of 50 euros is to follow the following year. In addition, the negotiating partners have agreed a one -off payment of 1,500 euros for the first five months of the contract. Driving service and other allowances as well as the Christmas bonus are also raised.

BVG HR head of HR Jenny Zeller-Grothe expressed optimistically about the compromise achieved. The negotiations were decisively promoted by the mediation of former prime ministers, including Matthias Platzeck and Bodo Ramelow. This support contributed to the agreement between Verdi and the BVG.

outlook for the future

A remarkable aspect of the new collective agreement is that he does not provide any strike -related restrictions in Berlin local transport by 2026. At the same time, the collective agreement that regulates working conditions expires at the end of this year. This means that from January 2026, industrial struggles must be expected again, provided that no further agreements are reached.

The tough negotiations and the associated warning strikes have shown that the financial means of the country are limited, which has reinforced the need to catch up in the fee. The BVG therefore faces the challenge of reconciling the requirements of its employees together with the financial circumstances in order to continue to ensure smooth transport in the federal capital in the future.

For Berlin's local transport, the conclusion of this tariff conflict is a glimmer of hope. The BVG and Verdi together seem to have paved their way for improved remuneration, which could have positive effects for both employees and passengers.