Unity Update: German T-Systems Workers Mobilize After Bargaining Collapses

More than 20,000 members of ver.di at T-Systems in Germany, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, are mobilizing for job actions following management's failure to resolve workers' bargaining issues after three rounds of negotiations. In the last few days, about 2,000 workers have participated in partial strikes at different locations.

Workers at DT in Germany and the DT owned T Mobile USA have joined together to form TU, jointly affiliated with ver.di and CWA. There are 20,000 T Mobile workers in the U.S.

Where they can, U.S. T-Mobile workers are showing their support and solidarity for their German colleagues who face tough bargaining. The difference between German and U.S. labor law, however, is that Germany fully recognizes workers' bargaining rights. In the United States, in contrast, workers are denied bargaining and organizing rights.

The T-Systems workers want a 5 percent wage increase over 12 months, given their company's success and profitability. T-System's final offer was 1.5 percent increases for 2010 and 2011.

Under German collective bargaining law, T-Systems and ver.di will begin mediation on Feb. 22 to try to reach an agreement. Should mediation fail, workers can strike or take other job actions.

Lothar Schroeder, head of ver.di's Telecommunications and IT Sector, said the company's final offer was totally inadequate and a provocation given the worsening economic situation of employees. "The discontent of employees is now immense," he said. "The employer seems to want trouble."

Photo Caption: Some 2,000 ver.di members in Germany have participated in partial strikes at the DT subsidiary, T-Systems.