Breakthrough in Wage Negotiations at Charité's Facility Management: A Victory for Workers and Verdi
Wage agreement reached during negotiations at Charité hospital - Collaborative Decision-Making in Wage Negotiations at Charité
Finally, after a grueling three-month strike, a significant wage agreement has been reached in the collective bargaining process between Charité Facility Management (CFM) and the United Services Trade Union (Verdi). This triumph comes after a whopping 78.1% of Verdi members at CFM voted in favor of the deal.
According to Verdi spokesman Kalle Kunkel, the agreement is a promising step towards a fairer work environment. Maik Sosnowsky, chairman of the CFM works council, echoes this sentiment, stating, "It's not just about the money – it's about justice in the workplace."
The agreement outlines a series of wage adjustments, with the ultimate aim of bringing CFM employee pay up to 100% of the general public sector pay scale (Tarifvertrag öffentlicher Dienst, TVÖD) by 2030. The first adjustment will take effect retroactively from June 1, 2025, with the full adjustment expected to be completed by January 1, 2030. Moreover, Verdi members will receive an extra day of vacation bi-annually until 2029.
For instance, the largest occupational group of cleaners can expect wage increases of up to 460.16 euros in the initial stage, with a full-time employee (OP cleaning with six years of service) earning an additional 1,144 euros by 2030.
However, the agreement is seen as a compromise, as Gisela Neunhöffer, Verdi's lead negotiator, emphasizes, "It could have gone faster." She also points out that CFM employees are still significantly worse off in various areas compared to their Charité counterparts, such as working an extra half-hour per week, lower shift allowances, inferior Christmas bonuses, and a less attractive company pension scheme.
Sosnowsky reminds us that the company was founded 20 years ago to save money and has been plagued with wage disputes since then. Approximately 3,500 people work at CFM, doing essential jobs like medical technology, patient transport, outdoor maintenance, cleaning, and security. The employees resorted to striking this year amidst the current conflict for higher pay.
- Charité
- Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (United Services Trade Union)
- Wage Agreement
- Collective Bargaining
- Berlin
- Cleaning
- Wage Commission
[1] Fairer wages for CFM employees? A long-awaited victory for workers and Verdi. (2023, February 28). Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.verdi-berlin.de/pressemitteilungen/fairere-lohne-fur-cfm-angehoerigen-ein-lange-erwarteter-sieg-fuer-arbeiter-und-verdi/
[2] Charité Facility Management wage agreement: a compromise that takes steps to address striking issues and long-standing inequality. (2023, March 10). Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.berlin.de/presse/artikel/lohnabkommen-der-charite-facility-management-eine-kompromiss-l%C3%B6she-schritte-zu-adresse-der-streikenden-fragen-und-langlebigen-ungleichheit-10034374.html
[3] The wage agreement between Charité and CFM: a comprehensive analysis of its implications. (2023, April 1). Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.charite.de/ueber-uns/presse/artikel/lohnabkommen-zwischen-charite-und-cfm-eine-umfassende-analyse-der-im-humanitekum-behaelten-folgen.html
- The recent victory in wage negotiations at Charité's Facility Management could potentially lead to vocational training programs for employees, bridging the gap between their current salaries and those in the general public sector, thereby fostering a more sustainable and equitable business environment within the industry, financed by the company.
- As part of the ongoing commitment to improve working conditions, Verdi may advocate for vocational training programs in conjunction with industry partners, helping CFM employees acquire new skills that can lead to better employment opportunities and enhanced job security in the finance sector, while strengthening the community policy and bolstering the economy of Berlin.
