The negotiation for the renewal of the German dockworkers' contract. Today, in fact, the association of German port companies ZDS and the trade union ver.di have signed a preliminary agreement and the organization urged the members to accept the offer presented by the employer with a vote that should take place by next September 27.

The negotiation between the parties was long and marked by repeated strikes in ports that began in June, but, "highlighted Torben Seebold, who represented ZDS in the negotiations, "after difficult but constructive negotiations we managed to reach an agreement in the fifth round of meetings, We are confident that the vote will be confirmed by the BTK (the Federal commission that oversees collective bargaining and that, after the workers' vote, it will pronounce on the offer submitted by ZDS, ed.) and that we will be able to fully restore confidence in the reliability of our harbours. The fact remains - added Seebold, implying that the companies could not have done more - than the agreement It means that companies are pushing their resilience in a difficult market situation".

Maren Ulbrich, representative of the ver.di trade union in the negotiations, explained that the ZDS association has presented a in the fifth round of negotiations, with "the application of of the social clause - he specified - which mitigates the gap between salary brackets and, above all, with the highest salary brackets that benefit from the offer". Ulbrich pointed out that, However, there are real wage increases in all the other and highlighted that part-time employees will be paid the full bonus of compensation for the effects inflation. "After our members refused the offer of the fourth round of negotiations - he underlined - Employers realized they should have done better if they did not want to risk other strikes. This message is been received".

Recommending that members accept the offer of the ZDS, The union explained that the offer to renew the contract collective agreement lasting 14 months until 31 July 2025 provides for that workers receive a tax-free compensation bonus of inflation worth 1,700 euros which will be paid to October. In addition, from next October 1st, the hourly wage will be increased by €1.15 and will be increased the amount of bonuses for Sunday work is also considerable. holiday and from next year the allowance for holidays not taken it will rise to 430 euros.