Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Railway Strike

 If you were a German and traveling around the country this week by rail.....today's the last day to get 'home'....before the strike starts up.  

Position of the union for this strike?  They want a 3.2-percent rise in pay and limit this contract period to 24 months. They also want a 600 Euro 'bonus' for Covid.  It's not clear how the bonus would work (if you are mandated to get the vaccination, or if you had Covid).  

The Bahn folks?  They agree totally on the 3.2 percent pay raise....except they want it for 40 months.  Originally, they were totally against the 600 Euro 'bonus' for Covid.....saying now they would at least discuss the matter (meaning it won't come anywhere near that 600 number, and they may even come to call the bonus some other word).

Effect of this five day strike?  It nails down the Green Party idea of halting all in-country flights....as unworkable.  

The Covid-bonus deal?  Most German companies DON'T give Covid-bonuses.  

Public opinion?  In the past, most Germans leaned toward supporting the union folks.  This time?  I'd say that slightly more than half the country aren't that supportive of the union.  This five-day deal won't help.

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