Tuesday, 4 March
Verdi rejects BVG’s wage offer, threatens new strikes
The standoff between Verdi and the BVG continues, with the union rejecting the latest pay offer and demanding immediate negotiations. Verdi argues that while the BVG has made concessions on contract working hours and allowances, the basic wage offer remains too low “to compensate for the backlog caused by the price jumps of recent years.”
Verdi’s lead negotiator Jeremy Arndt has called for a new round of talks within ten days. If the BVG agrees to schedule negotiations within 24 hours, further strikes will be avoided until the meeting. Otherwise, Berliners should brace for more disruptions to bus and train services. The BVG responded swiftly, stating it welcomes the proposal and will work on setting a date for talks.
The most recent offer from the BVG includes a shorter contract duration of 30 months instead of 48, a monthly raise of €225 backdated to January 1, and additional €100 increments at the start of 2026 and 2027. It also proposes a 125% increase in shift allowances.
Tensions have run high throughout the negotiations, with Verdi staging multiple warning strikes, including a two-day walkout in February that crippled Berlin’s public transport. As well as a 13th salary payment and substantial increases to shift and service-related allowances, the union continues to push for an additional €750 per month for the approximately 16,000 employees over a 12-month period.
