Failed Negotiations in Private Omnibus Sector in Baden-Württemberg: Verdi Prepares for Urabstimmung
Stuttgart, Germany – Verdi, the trade union representing workers in Germany’s private omnibus sector, has declared the latest round of collective bargaining negotiations in Baden-Württemberg as a failure.
After four rounds of negotiations, Verdi announced that the employers’ offers had fallen short of their demands, despite a series of warning strikes with high participation rates.
"The employers have made only minor improvements to their offer," Verdi said in a statement. "As a result, the Tarifkommission has declared that the negotiations have failed."
Verdi is now preparing for a Urabstimmung, a vote among its members to approve or reject a possible strike action. If more than 75% of members vote in favor, Verdi can call for an indefinite strike.
Verdi is demanding a 9% wage increase for the approximately 9,000 employees in the private omnibus sector in Baden-Württemberg, as well as a €100 monthly increase for apprentices. The union is also seeking a contract duration of 12 months.
The employers, represented by the Verband Baden-Württembergischer Omnibusunternehmen (WBO), have offered a 3% wage increase in July 2025 and a 2.5% increase in July 2026, with a contract duration of 27 months. The employers have also refused to make any further concessions on company pension schemes.
Verdi has rejected the employers’ offer as inadequate. The union argues that the wage increases are too low, the contract duration is too long, and the lack of progress on company pensions is unacceptable.
"These late and insufficient increases with an excessive contract duration cannot be accepted," Verdi said.
The WBO has not yet commented on the failure of the negotiations. The union is expected to issue a statement in the coming days.
The failure of the negotiations is likely to lead to a period of uncertainty and disruption in the private omnibus sector in Baden-Württemberg. Verdi has warned that it is prepared to call for a strike if its demands are not met.
The dispute is the latest in a series of labor disputes in Germany’s transport sector. In recent months, strikes have hit the railway and aviation industries, as well as the public transport sector in Berlin and other cities.
The ongoing labor unrest reflects the growing frustration among German workers with rising inflation and stagnant wages. Unions are demanding significant wage increases to offset the rising cost of living and to protect their members’ purchasing power.
The failure of the negotiations in Baden-Württemberg’s private omnibus sector is a sign that the conflict between employers and unions in Germany’s transport sector is far from over. As the cost of living continues to rise, it is likely that more strikes and labor disputes will follow.
