Collective bargaining in Hamburg: Employees demand fair wages and protection!

Collective bargaining in Hamburg: Employees demand fair wages and protection!

The world of work in Hamburg is under pressure. Almost 20% of the population is at risk of poverty, which particularly affects the unemployed, single parents, large families and people without German citizenship. According to the DGB, it is important that the work not only secures a living wage, but also has equal pay, is subject to collective agreements, has co-determination, is socially insured and is permanent. But the reality is far different. Around 46% of employees in Hamburg work in companies that are not bound by collective agreements and earn less than 14 euros per hour. This is anything but optimal for Hamburg's economy.

The poor tariff coverage in Hamburg, which is the second worst in West Germany, not only has an impact on the purchasing power of citizens, but also costs society a lot of money. An example: nationwide collective bargaining could bring the people of Hamburg an additional 1.2 billion euros annually. At the same time, the damage caused by tariff evasion and wage dumping adds up to large sums, around 875 million euros for social insurance and 568 million euros for income tax. These sad figures make it clear that urgent action is needed here.

Strong calls for change

The German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) is calling for a number of measures to strengthen collective bargaining. A central point is the introduction of a strong collective bargaining law, which ensures that public contracts are only awarded to companies bound by collective agreements. In addition, a takeover offer is required in the event of a change of operator in local public transport. Limiting subcontracting chains and making collective bargaining binding for economic development are also on the agenda. A good business could be made if these demands were implemented.

In an initial survey as part of the DGB Good Work Index, which is currently used to assess the world of work, 48% of participants expressed their dissatisfaction and described their conditions as “bad work”. The index is a valuable tool for analyzing working conditions, which should be continuously updated to meet the needs of employees.

Future-oriented measures

A future approach is to call for an expansion of occupational safety, particularly with regard to digitalization and the challenges of climate change. From 2026, a minimum inspection rate of 5% per year will be introduced nationwide for all companies. The right preparation is required here in order to offer employees the best conditions.

The pandemic has also brought other problems to light. A current study shows that women often find worse conditions when working from home than men and that there are unequal opportunities in the distribution of work and responsibility. It is therefore important that when designing the world of work, care is taken to ensure that all employees are treated equally.

The coming years will be crucial for Hamburg's working landscape. The demands of the DGB are clear: good work must not remain just a slogan, but must become a reality for all employees in Hamburg. This is the only way to close the gap between the different realities of life. The DGB is therefore committed to improving working conditions for everyone. Many people in Hamburg are fighting for justice – and that should also apply to the world of work.

For further information on the demands and background of “Good Work” in Hamburg, please visit the DGB website: Good work and collective agreement as well as the results of the DGB Index Good job.