It’s not a must, but at least it’s a nice side effect when tariff talks end in such a way that the negotiators still make it into the main news programs with the result of their struggle. On Wednesday evening, too, it looked as if the agreement between unions and municipal employers for the approximately 330,000 employees in social and educational services could still be announced on the news at 8 p.m.
The negotiations had lasted long enough at this point, and they had been sitting together since Monday. But then it took a few hours before the result was actually known.
Money can be converted into days off
The agreement stipulates that the employees will initially receive two additional days off per year. In the future, they should also have the option of converting part of their salary into a maximum of two additional days off. This would allow for up to four additional days of rest for employees each year.
The option to convert money into days off refers specifically to a new allowance that is to be paid from July: In addition to the additional days off, educators in the municipal public service will then receive an additional 130 euros a month. For social workers there will also be an additional 180 euros from July.
Unions and employers satisfied
In addition, professional experience in social and educational services is to be rewarded in the same way as other employees in the public sector. The time employees stay in one pay grade before moving up to the next is scheduled to be aligned with general public service grades as of October 1, 2024. This means that salaries will rise faster in the future than before.
The agreement is “another significant step to make the professions in the social and educational system more attractive and to take effective action against the shortage of skilled workers,” said Verdi chairman Frank Werneke. dbb negotiator Andreas Hemsing also expressed his satisfaction: With the degree, the professional field was “upgraded”.
The President of the Association of Municipal Employers’ Associations (VKA), Karin Welge, spoke of a “good and successful compromise”, which was also a “challenge for municipal employers”. The VKA assumes that the new allowances alone will increase personnel costs by around 3.7 percent annually.
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