Collective bargaining dispute at BVG: rapprochement, but no agreement in sight

According to company information, there is a rapprochement in the wage dispute between the Berlin Transport Company (BVG) and the Verdi union. In the fourth round of negotiations, the BVG presented a new offer that provides for a significantly shorter term than before. Both sides have also come closer to agreement on the bonuses. Verdi did not initially comment on the negotiations.

According to the BVG, the new offer provides for a contract term of 30 months instead of the previous 48 months. According to the BVG, it is sticking to the previous offer of an additional 225 euros per month retroactively to January 1 of this year. Instead of a percentage increase in the following years, the fees in 2026 and 2027 are now to increase by a further 100 euros at the beginning of each year.

The BVG has announced that it is planning to increase the driving service and rotating shift allowances by 125 percent. "The driving service allowance and the rotating shift allowance would then each be 225 euros, and the shift allowance would be 130 euros," it said.

BVG wants planning security over a long period

The union had significantly increased the pressure on the BVG last week with a two-day warning strike . It was the third and longest strike in the current collective bargaining round for around 16,000 employees.

Verdi rejected the most recent offer. The union particularly rules out the 48-month term proposed by the BVG. Among other things, Verdi is demanding an additional 750 euros per month for employees for a term of twelve months. It is also demanding a 13th month's salary, a driving service or rotating shift allowance of 300 euros and a shift allowance of 200 euros.

Verdi will soon decide on possible further warning strikes

The collective bargaining commission will now have to gauge the mood of its members again before deciding how to proceed. Warning strikes are not off the table.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 21. If the BVG has not submitted an offer by then that the union considers worth negotiating, Verdi threatens an indefinite strike. At least 75 percent of the participating Verdi members would have to agree to this in a ballot.