German Cash Transport Workers Strike in Wage Dispute
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Cash-in-transit workers in Germany began a nationwide strike on Monday that will continue into the coming days, according to the verdi trade union.
Armored car workers are currently negotiating over wages and other benefits as part of sector-wide collective bargaining talks with cash and valuables transport companies. About 10,000 workers are covered by the contract, DPA reported.
The verdi trade union said the strike would continue nationwide through Tuesday and workers in some German states will remain off the job on Wednesday as well.
Verdi accused the industry group, the Federal Association of German Cash and Valuables Services (BDGW), of failing to present an acceptable offer during the most recent talks on September 20.
"Instead, the employers have stuck to their demands to worsen working conditions," said verdi's lead negotiator, Sonja Austermuhle.
The offer from employers would include less holiday time for new hires, for instance.
The verdi-organized strike is intended to increase the pressure on the employers ahead of the next round of negotiations on October 17 and 18.
The union is demanding overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of eight hours per working day. It is also demanding a uniform holiday allowance of 31 days for all full-time workers, Christmas bonuses of half a gross monthly salary.
Verdi is also demanding significantly higher wages, peaking at €23 ($26) per hour in the western German states of North Rhine Westphalia and Lower Saxony.
The employers' association had already defended itself against criticism from verdi, arguing that base hourly wages in cash and valuables transport are already relatively high at between €18.47 and €21.18.