Labour union Verdi and the BDLS association of aviation safety companies said that a comprehensive collective agreement had been reached.
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In the collective bargaining dispute with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) to increase the fees for the approximately 25,000 security forces at German commercial airports, the United Services Union (ver.di) and the employers already agreed on Monday (28.3.22) after intensive discussions over the weekend sixth round of collective bargaining and achieved a comprehensive collective bargaining result.
“Our colleagues at the airports have clearly shown what they expect from an acceptable wage agreement. In this way, it was possible to agree on tariff increases in three stages for 24 months,†said ver.di negotiator Wolfgang Pieper.
The collective agreement has a term until December 31, 2023. The ver.di collective bargaining committee unanimously approved the collective bargaining result.
"The large participation in the warning strikes in the past few weeks has strengthened us in the negotiations and made it clear to the employers that they had to take a real step towards the employees. The employers have finally submitted an acceptable offer,†Pieper continued. For the first time, many employees in the booming freight handling sector took part in the labor disputes.
"After three collective bargaining rounds accompanied by warning strikes, the employers understood that the employees and their union ver.di are willing and able to enforce better collective agreements if necessary."
The collective bargaining agreement consists of several components. There are different increases in three stages for all tariff groups, which will be between 4.4 and 7.8 percent in 2022.
In addition, it was agreed: The adjustment of wages in East and West will be completed on January 1, 2024 and will bring significant wage increases for employees.
The principle: "Equal pay for equal work at every commercial airport" will also become reality on January 1, 2024. Against the bitter resistance of the employers, an equalization step in the wage increase could also be achieved for the activities with official examination. The lower pay during the probationary period or when starting a career has been eliminated. The blocking attitude of employers against a retrospective wage increase was also broken.
Pieper continues: "With this collective agreement, it is possible to make the wage conditions in the aviation security industry and the work more attractive, despite unfavorable working hours and numerous operational problems."
This also includes the general working conditions, which should be improved through better regulations in the general collective agreement. Employers should be aware that aviation security only works if there are enough employees available for this activity.
"Work in the industry must be attractive so that the necessary security at the airports is permanently guaranteed. The employees will also actively participate in these negotiations.†■