Berlin’s transport workers are rallying against stagnation in wage negotiations, transitioning from token strikes to an urgent call for an unlimited strike. The Transport Workers Action Committee urges unity to challenge the Verdi union’s tactics, highlighting that current negotiations distract from genuine wage demands and risk a sell-out deal. Workers demand a €750 increase to combat soaring living costs and push back against government plans for extensive military rearmament funded through social cuts.
Inflation and political turmoil have heightened the struggle for fair wages, yet the government shows an eagerness to fund military ambitions while sidestepping workers’ needs. The Berlin Senate and BVG authorities fear an unlimited strike could ignite widespread mobilisations against dwindling wages and escalating militarisation. Therefore, it’s essential for the transport workers to demonstrate their collective strength.
The Verdi leadership, closely aligned with the ruling coalition, insists there’s no funding available for workers’ demands. However, government allocations for military spending contradict this claim. Recent negotiations saw minor adjustments, but the fundamental issues around wage increases remain unaddressed, further fuelling discontent among workers like Jeremy Arndt, who highlighted management’s resistance.
Verdi’s ties to the government also complicate the workers’ push for fair treatment. Frank Werneke, Verdi’s chairman, downplays military spending by referencing geopolitical threats while asserting the necessity for higher defence budgets. A shift towards solidarity and independent action is deemed vital for enforcing wage demands with the Transport Workers Action Committee spearheading the movement.
In preparation for the action, workers must strengthen the Transport Workers Action Committee to ensure direct intervention in workplace issues. A unified front could bring the city to a standstill, gaining public sympathy and support. Advancing this movement involves grassroots organising, leaning on the strength that workers possess collectively, as their needs must be prioritised over profit-driven motives.
The call is clear: oppose the anticipated Verdi sell-out, join the next meeting of the Transport Workers Action Committee, and rally behind the need for an indefinite strike. Workers can participate by contacting the committee through messaging services or social media platforms, forging a path towards a powerful collective action for fair wages.
Berlin’s transport workers are transitioning from limited strikes to an urgent call for an unlimited strike amidst stagnant wage negotiations. The Transport Workers Action Committee aims to counteract the Verdi union’s tactics, pushing for a €750 wage increase essential for combating rising costs. The government’s focus on military build-up at the expense of worker welfare has ignited this movement, demanding a show of strength and collective action against profit-driven priorities.
The Berlin transport workers are standing firm against wage stagnation and military funding priorities, with an unyielding call for an unlimited strike. Their demands for a €750 wage increase reflect the surge in living costs and a refusal to accept Verdi’s negotiating tactics. To succeed, mobilising under the Transport Workers Action Committee will be crucial in pressing for workers’ rights and shifting the narrative from profit to people’s needs. Now is the time to act, unite, and fight for what is justfully deserved.
Original Source: www.wsws.org
