Amid ongoing warning strikes in Germany's public sector, the Federation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) calls for legal restrictions on strike rights. BDA CEO Steffen Kampeter accuses the ver.di union of an irresponsible strategy. The demands arise during tariff negotiations for about 2.2 million employees.
The Federation of German Employers' Associations (BDA) is responding to recent warning strikes in the public sector by demanding greater fairness in strike regulations. In an interview with Bild newspaper, BDA CEO Steffen Kampeter stated: "Germany urgently needs a law for fairness rules in strikes." He accused the ver.di union of undermining trust with its approach of "striking first, then negotiating."
The context is ongoing tariff negotiations for the public sector. Ver.di and the Civil Servants' Association dbb are seeking a seven percent income increase or at least 300 euros more per month for around 2.2 million employees. Ver.di has called for nationwide strikes affecting areas such as university clinics, road construction administrations, and IT, where the states act as employers.
Following two fruitless negotiation rounds, unions and employers are expected to meet again from February 11 to 13. Ver.di is negotiating on behalf of teachers, university staff, and employees in prisons and the justice system. Over 900,000 tariff employees are directly involved, while results for about 1.3 million civil servants are to be implemented later by law in the individual states. Hesse is negotiating separately.
