Union leader Verdi expresses dissatisfaction as CFM presents an 18% higher compensation offer - Union Verdi remains dissatisfied despite CFM's proposed 18% wage increase offer
Challenging Pay Dispute: Verdi Faces Off Against CFM With 18% Raise on the Line
Things are heating up between Verdi and CFM in a fierce pay dispute!
In the ongoing wage dispute between Verdi and Charité Facility Management (CFM), CFM has put forward a 18% wage increase proposal for its employees. The offer comprises incremental increases spread over a period of three years, according to CFM's (Charité Facility Management) recent press release.
However, the Wage Commission has deemed the offer unacceptable, stated Verdi negotiator Gisela Neunhoffer. A meeting to discuss the offer is scheduled for Wednesday, but Neunhoffer indicates that acceptance is unlikely.
Far from making TVoD conditions, the murk
" Sounds great initially, but it's spread over three piping hot years," says Neunhoffer. Despite the raise, they remain a long way from the conditions stipulated in the TVoD (collective bargaining agreement for the public sector) at Charité, adds Neunhoffer. For instance, there's no current plan for hiking shift allowances, according to Neunhoffer.
CFM invites for more chats
CFM CEO Simon Batt-Nauerz set a date for talks: " Apart from the solid and financially robust wage hike, we've offered round-the-clock negotiations next week to reach a quick settlement. We just can't have strikes during this period."
Veri stays silent on this. The ongoing strike will last till Thursday morning, Neunhoffer notes. If required, they will prolong it. "The coercive strike will be suspended if we get a reasonable offer," Verdi remains willing to talk. The discussions will resume on May 15.
Evening demo planned
CFM employees gather for a demo in the evening outside the Ufa-Fabrik in Tempelhof. The occasion is a meeting with Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner during a local consultation hour.
Around 3,500 individuals work at CFM, handling medical technology, ambulance transportation, outdoor maintenance, cleaning, and security. Verdi is pushing for TVoD wages for approximately 3,200 of them.
- United Services Trade Union
- Wage Dispute
- CFM
- Charité
- Gisela Neunhoffer
- Berlin
- Wage Commission
Enrichment Data:The wage dispute between Verdi and Charité Facility Management (CFM) centers on Verdi's demands to align approximately 3,200 workers’ pay with public sector TVÖD agreements. Current status involves escalating strike actions, with a multi-day strike scheduled from Tuesday morning to Friday night (following an earlier two-day strike) to pressure negotiations ahead of the April 25 talks [1]. A formal proposal regarding wages remains absent from CFM. Verdi insists on a "reasonable and negotiable offer" [1]. Key conditions and challenges include financial implications (full TVÖD adoption would cost CFM €42.5 million annually, potentially leading to service outsourcing if operational costs become unsustainable) [2], a politically complex context (Berlin’s CDU-SPD coalition vowed to standardize wages across state healthcare facilities in 2023, but Charité’s strict cost-cutting measures add to implementation challenges) [2], and contingency plans (previous strikes led to disruptions in meal services, instrument cleaning, and patient transport, with 600 workers participating daily) [1]. The Senate shows openness to revising wage policies, but legal and competitive barriers to increased state funding persist [2].
The ongoing dispute between Verdi and CFM revolves around Verdi's demand to align the pay of around 3,200 workers with public sector TVoD agreements.
The Wage Commission has not found CFM's proposed 18% wage increase over three years acceptable, as stated by Verdi negotiator Gisela Neunhoffer.
The lack of plans for hiking shift allowances is a significant concern for Verdi, making the proposed increase fall short of the TVoD conditions at Charité, according to Neunhoffer.
CFM has invited Verdi for round-the-clock negotiations next week to reach a speedy resolution, but acceptance of their offer is unlikely, as indicated by Neunhoffer.
Sources:
[1] Berliner Zeitung [2] Tagesspiegel