Deutsche Bahn (DB) management and the large EVG rail union (Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft) have written a new page in the history books. In Berlin on 12 December and following five rounds of arduous negotiations, both parties signed a collective agreement that for the first time gives the 100,000 rail worker union members the freedom of choice.
The collective agreement includes a two-stage 5.5% pay rise (EVG maintains this is 5.1%). Employees will be free to choose how to receive the second stage of the pay rise according to three different forms. Firstly they can choose higher pay, second they can choose one extra week of holidays, or third they choose to reduce their working time. Regina Rusch-Ziemba, EVG chief negotiator, stated she was happy to sign the agreement has welcomed it thus: “This is the first time ever we have negotiate
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