Unions warn of strike at Vattenfall
Elizabeth Press - [email protected]
Published: 30 Jan, 2008 CET.
Updated: Wed 30 Jan 2008 14:19 CET
Unions are threatening prolonged strikes at the Vattenfall headquarters in Berlin due to a conflict over wages. The unions IGBCE, who represents workers in the energy industry, and IG Metall, the industry union of metal workers, are demanding an 8 percent increase in wages, while Vattenfall is insisting on its offer of a 3.2 percent wage and a one time payment of 500 Euros.
On January 23, both sides halted the third round of negotiations due to the inability to come to a compromise. The unions have given Vattenfall an ultimatum, saying that the energy company has until February 4 to come up with a “clearly improved” offer, or it will face prolonged strikes.
Vattenfall Europe is the German subsidiary of the Swedish state-owned energy company Vattenfall. In total, Vattenfall has around 21,000 employees. In Berlin, 4,150 people are employed by Vattenfall, 4,000 of whom are from the former Berlin utility company, Bewag, and 150 of which are from Vatenfall Europe.
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On January 23, both sides halted the third round of negotiations due to the inability to come to a compromise. The unions have given Vattenfall an ultimatum, saying that the energy company has until February 4 to come up with a “clearly improved” offer, or it will face prolonged strikes.
Vattenfall Europe is the German subsidiary of the Swedish state-owned energy company Vattenfall. In total, Vattenfall has around 21,000 employees. In Berlin, 4,150 people are employed by Vattenfall, 4,000 of whom are from the former Berlin utility company, Bewag, and 150 of which are from Vatenfall Europe.
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