The union ver.di and the Municipal Employers' Association have reached an agreement on a new framework tariff contract for employees of municipal bus companies in Schleswig-Holstein. The deal includes improvements such as a higher annual bonus payment and a new substitute premium. No further strikes are threatened at present.
An agreement has been reached in Schleswig-Holstein on a new framework tariff contract for employees of municipal bus companies. As reported by the ver.di Nord union in a press release on Sunday, the Municipal Employers' Association (KAV) was convinced to accept the tariff deal, which includes numerous improvements for the workers.
The annual bonus payment will be increased stepwise by a total of 1,400 euros over the contract's duration. Allowances will in future be paid according to individual pay grades, and night work supplements will start from 9 p.m. Additionally, a substitute premium for 'calling in from off-duty' will be introduced, depending on working hours.
The tariff parties have committed to negotiations on a classification obligation by June 30, 2028. In the event of introducing autonomous driving, mandatory talks on a future tariff contract will follow.
"We have gone beyond the limits of what is feasible in this agreement," stated Andreas Schulz from Kieler Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH, deputy chairman of the specialist committee for local transport companies in the Municipal Employers' Association Schleswig-Holstein. ver.di negotiator Sascha Bähring described the outcome as an acceptable compromise and announced that wage negotiations will begin on July 1, 2026.
The union is calling for adequate funding of public transport from the state and municipalities. "Anyone who wants to achieve the transport policy turnaround must also ensure that the corresponding economic framework conditions are created so that the right steps can be taken here. Financing the latest buses is not enough; personnel framework conditions must also be promoted and financed," Bähring added.
Three rounds of negotiations ended without result; a compromise was found in the fourth. Approval from the bodies is still pending and must be given by March 31. Further strikes, like the last one on February 27, will be avoided for now. The previous agreement dates back to 2024 after five rounds, and a new negotiation period until June 30, 2028, has been set to ensure predictability.
