2010 collective bargaining round: groundbreaking start

2010 collective bargaining round: groundbreaking start

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Jens Flintrop editor for health and social policy
At the beginning of the year, the star published an income list. The table shows the average gross salaries of people in employment in 100 occupations in 1990 and 2008. Adjusted for inflation, doctors' salaries fell by 50 percent in the period under review (no differentiation is made according to whether doctors work in practices or clinics). As far as hospital doctors are concerned, this trend certainly contributed to the fact that the Marburger Bund (MB) ended its collective bargaining cooperation with Verdi in 2005 in order to conclude independent doctor-specific collective agreements with the respective hospital providers. The fixed salaries of clinicians have been rising again since then. The doctors' union is playing into the cards that the hospitals have had massive problems filling their medical positions for several years. The TV doctors / VKA is now the main currency of all MB collective agreements, i.e. the collective agreement that the MB has for the 55 or so employees 000 doctors at municipal hospitals negotiated with the Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA). Against this background, it is not only the doctors in the municipal clinics who are following the current tariff poker between the MB and the VKA, which was opened in Frankfurt am Main on January 18, with great excitement by five percent: When, if not in this situation in which doctors are urgently needed, should one ask for the money that was withheld from doctors in recent years? asks Rudolf Henke, MB chairman. In addition, the doctors' side wants to push through significant increases in hourly wages for on-call duty: for doctors from 22.30 to 30 euros, for specialists from 27.10 to 36 euros, for senior physicians from 30 to 39 euros and for senior physicians from 32 to 41 euros. The third important goal is to shorten the terms in salary group I (doctor) to twelve months at each level. The MB claims, which add up to eight percent more for doctors, are not appropriate and cannot be financed, emphasizes VKA negotiator Joachim Finklenburg: For the third time in row, the doctors want to push through disproportionate salary increases that the hospitals simply cannot cope with. An increase in the fees for on-call services by up to 35 percent would make them unaffordable. Those who demand this actually want to abolish on-call duty altogether, according to the VKA, which in turn wants to ensure that doctors are included in the system of performance-based remuneration in the collective agreement.
.
Jens Flintrop editor for health and social policy
At the beginning of the year, the star published an income list. The table shows the average gross salaries of people in employment in 100 occupations in 1990 and 2008. Adjusted for inflation, doctors' salaries fell by 50 percent in the period under review (no differentiation is made according to whether doctors work in practices or clinics). As far as hospital doctors are concerned, this trend certainly contributed to the fact that the Marburger Bund (MB) ended its collective bargaining cooperation with Verdi in 2005 in order to conclude independent doctor-specific collective agreements with the respective hospital providers. The fixed salaries of clinicians have been rising again since then. The doctors' union is playing into the cards that the hospitals have had massive problems filling their medical positions for several years. The TV doctors / VKA is now the main currency of all MB collective agreements, i.e. the collective agreement that the MB has for the 55 or so employees 000 doctors at municipal hospitals negotiated with the Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA). Against this background, it is not only the doctors in the municipal clinics who are following the current tariff poker between the MB and the VKA, which was opened in Frankfurt am Main on January 18, with great excitement by five percent: When, if not in this situation in which doctors are urgently needed, should one ask for the money that was withheld from doctors in recent years? asks Rudolf Henke, MB chairman. In addition, the doctors' side wants to push through significant increases in hourly wages for on-call duty: for doctors from 22.30 to 30 euros, for specialists from 27.10 to 36 euros, for senior physicians from 30 to 39 euros and for senior physicians from 32 to 41 euros. The third important goal is to shorten the terms in salary group I (doctor) to twelve months at each level. The MB claims, which add up to eight percent more for doctors, are not appropriate and cannot be financed, emphasizes VKA negotiator Joachim Finklenburg: For the third time in row, the doctors want to push through disproportionate salary increases that the hospitals simply cannot cope with. An increase in the fees for on-call services by up to 35 percent would make them unaffordable. Those who demand this actually want to abolish on-call duty altogether, according to the VKA, which in turn wants to ensure that doctors are included in the system of performance-based remuneration in the collective agreement.The negotiators of both parties, for MB this is Lutz Hammerschlag, forecast particularly difficult collective bargaining round. Both feel the pressure of their members: The clinic doctors see further catching up to do with their salaries and point to the increasing workload. The municipalities argue with their budget deficits and the falling tax revenues because of the economic crisis. A labor dispute is realistic scenario against this background. For promising strike, however, the doctors need the support of the population. In the current economic crisis, however, this cannot be taken for granted; discussion of envy could quickly develop. The Stern Salary Report also came to this conclusion: The doctors are still the top earners in this country. Jens Flintrop Editor for Health and Social Policy
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