After a marathon 24-hour negotiation, on Friday, April 5, the construction social partners – the IG BAU union, the ZDB confederation of German construction SMEs (Zentralverband des Deutsches Baugewerbe) and the HDB Construction Industry Federation (Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie) – announced that they had reached an agreement increasing the salary of nearly 734,000 employees (HDB figures). Even though activity is down, the German construction industry is doing well, which is why the IG BAU was able to secure wage increases amounting to 3.2 (west) and 4% (east). Equal pay between the two sides of the country was at the center of the debate. The union managed to squeeze out total leveling over nine years. (Ref. 130228)
3.2-4% increase over 13 months. German construction social partners agreed on a 3.2 increase for the 549,000 employees in western Germany and 4% for the 185,000 in the East on May 1 and for 12 months. For apprentices, whose remuneration will increase proportionately, a new ‘information clause’ will be introduced. It will forced the training companies to let their apprentices know, 3 months before their apprenticeship is over, whether or not they will be hired after they graduate.
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