Germany faces strike paralysis (HOLD MEIN BIER, FROHLICHE WEINACHTEN)

The Sunday Times ^ | December 22, 2002 | Peter Conradi and Michael Woodhead

[MadIvan]

A UNION boss threatening to mount a huge public-sector strike in Germany next month has boasted of his determination to soak the rich and accused Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of trying to “Americanise” society.

Cue huge laughter from Britain and America - Ivan

Frank Bsirske, head of ver.di, the biggest union in Europe, is in combative mood after a week of token stoppages and inconclusive talks about pay.

Final attempts at arbitration will be made after Christmas. But the union, which represents 3m workers ranging from nurses to dustmen, is demanding a pay rise of at least 3%. Local authorities say they can afford only 0.9%. The stage seems set for a strike that could paralyse Germany and damage its weak economy.

The strike may also prevent Schröder’s ruling Social Democratic party (SPD) from retaining control of the chancellor’s home state of Lower Saxony in elections in February, allowing the opposition to overturn the government’s majority in the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament.

For Bsirske, 50, the dispute is about more than money for his members, many of whom enjoy benefits that would be the envy of their counterparts in Britain. It is also deeply political.

Bsirske, a Green party member, has been a leading advocate of a 1% tax on wealth, supported by several left-wing members of the SPD. At a rally this month he rejected calls for wage restraint when, he said, not enough was being done to tax people such as Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, one of Germany’s richest women.

Bsirske has been equally forthright in attacking government proposals to loosen laws that force shops to close early on Saturday afternoons and stay shut on Sundays.

Any such change, the union boss claimed, would lead to an unwelcome American-style “open all hours” society.

[MadIvan]

God forbid there are any changes which increase employment and make life more convenient for people in Germany.

snicker

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Voltage]

The question these issues raise is...can we learn from others failures? If so we might be able to avoid them ourselves.

[MonroeDNA]

They will tax themselves into prosperity.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Any such change, the union boss claimed, would lead to an unwelcome American-style “open all hours” society.

Oh, the horrors of convenience. I was chatting with a Dutch acquaintance last night who, when talking about Christmas shopping, mentioned that stores are usually closed on Sundays except during the holiday season. I don't understand the practice, really.

[Imal]

Too bad we have a Social Democratic Party in the U.S., with identical goals.

[weikel]

This is like the Weimar republic all over again the only thing missing is stormtroopers and commie thugs having street fights.

[pepsionice]

The unions belief in their power comes from years of strike threats and the government always backing down. There has almost never been a government position won when they threaten a strike. In this case, the government is actually out of money and could not possibly meet the 3 percent requirement, without a major tax on something...very likely gas because everyone tends to just accept that. If the government was smart, they would simply allow the strikes to continue...even if it lasted for weeks. The unions might finally realize the implications of the deeds.

[weikel]

The unions belief in their power comes from years of strike threats and the government always backing down

This was constantly happening during the time of the Weimar republic.

[mvpel]

At a rally this month he rejected calls for wage restraint when, he said, not enough was being done to tax people such as Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, one of Germany’s richest women.

Why doesn't he go over to her house himself, and hold a gun to her head and demand money, instead of calling for the government to do it for him?

Socialists - feh.

[Leisler]

Stuff like that is contracted out to specialized subs. Usually called the IRS, or something like that.

[SkyPilot]

ZDF television reported that 35,000 German businesses have failed this year.

People here call is a Depression--not a Recession.

Things are going from bad to horrible.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

That is too bad. Not more than 30 minutes ago, there was a sudden influx of Germans in another thread, full of hatred for Bush and the US. It is quite sad, but they have let their hatred blind them to reality. Any chance this red-green coalition will fall apart soon?

[mvpel]

Bush hatred is a convenient distraction for the German government. Gives their hoardes of able-bodied unemployed something to do during the day, and diverts attention from the failed policies of their Socialist government.