Cash transport strike: Is Germany now short of cash? – economy

Hit the guards at the beginning of the year! After unsuccessful collective bargaining, the Ver.di union called 12,000 wickets and strikers.

Possible consequence: banks and stores do not receive money fees, empty ATMs are not filled. Daily incomes in many department stores, super and DIY stores are not picked up.

Previously, comptoirs and fund drivers earned between 1800 and 2200 euros in the East and between 2200 and 2900 euros in West Germany. Trade unionists claim 1.50 euros more than the hourly wage, or 250 euros per month. In addition, salary differences in the industry at the national level should be reduced.

"Our message to employers: if there is no more negotiable offer on the table, work stoppages will be extended," said Ver.di's negotiator, Arno Peukes.

Employers secure supplies

Employers give themselves despite the threat of monetary chaos: a warning strike of several hours, although painful and expensive for companies. But: "The supply of liquidity in Germany will not collapse," said a spokeswoman for the Federal Association of Money and Value Services in Germany (BDGW). German press agency.

The industry does not work only on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm, and at the end of the year the supply was normal, she said. In addition, not all employees participated in the temporary work stoppage.

Employers have declared the strikes "incomprehensible", pointing out that companies had been on the verge of pain during their last offer to Ver.di. For the Federated States of the East, for example, an increase of 9.4% was expected in the next two years.

On 3 and 4 January, collective bargaining in Bad Nauheim in Hesse will be in their fifth round. If there is no more result on the table, strikes could continue – with clear consequences for the economy. "A strike of several days or weeks would be a problem," said the BDGW spokeswoman.