Verdi demands millions for Lower Saxony: focus on public transport and daycare centers!

Verdi demands millions for Lower Saxony: focus on public transport and daycare centers!

The Verdi union presented its demands to the Lower Saxony state government today in order to influence the upcoming budget meeting. In a press release, Verdi underlines the need for increased investment in key areas such as local public transport, daycare centers, hospitals and adult education. Andrea Wemheuer, the state district manager, emphasizes the urgency of additional resources in order to attract more skilled workers in Lower Saxony and to better overcome the associated challenges.

A central demand from Verdi is to increase the budget for local public transport in order not only to hire staff, but also to procure new trains and buses and to create better connections in rural areas. This is crucial to counteract the climate crises. There is currently an investment backlog of over two billion euros in the hospital sector, despite funds that have already been approved. Verdi is also calling for the budget for further training to be doubled and state funding for projects that promote democracy to be continued.

Demands and accents

As the union notes, social measures such as the introduction of an additional holiday on March 8th are also on the agenda. These investments are not only of great importance for the coming years, but are also seen as supporting Lower Saxony's social infrastructure.

Another important aspect is the current situation in local public transport, where employees recently achieved a collective agreement in the regional collective agreement for the Lower Saxony transport company. After three days of strikes and an arbitration process, significant wage increases were agreed. From July 1, 2021, employees will earn a total of 80 cents more per hour in two steps. At the same time, employees receive additional vacation days in the first few years of employment.

Public transport as a key factor

Marian Drews, Verdi union secretary, highlights the importance of wages for public transport workers, especially drivers, whose salaries will increase by almost 6 percent. The underlying issues such as the underfunding of public transport, which benefits both service providers and staff, are also issues close to the union's heart. The corona pandemic has brought additional challenges here, as the local transport companies' financial contracts with municipal authorities influence wage developments.

Verdi plans to actively bring the financing of local public transport and the transport transition into the political discourse before the coming elections. The members of the union approved the collective bargaining agreement, which covers employees in transport services, workshops and administration at various local transport companies, with a clear majority. This highlights the need for a resilient and sustainable public transport system in Lower Saxony, which will also influence the state government's efforts before the current budget meeting.