Berlin's Transportation Minister Criticizes Union Amid Ongoing Negotiations

The Transportation Minister of Berlin has expressed discontent with the conduct of the Verdi union during current wage negotiations with the Berlin Transport Company (BVG). Ute Bonde, a member of the CDU party, stated that it is unreasonable for one party to maintain maximal demands while the other is making significant concessions.

Bonde highlighted that the latest wage proposal from the BVG, which offers an average salary increase of EUR600, places the BVG among the leaders in salary levels for public transport staff across the federal states of Germany. She emphasized that the financial flexibility displayed by the BVG was facilitated by the current Senate's efforts.

In response to opposition critiques regarding her management of transportation issues, Bonde acknowledged concerns about the state of the A100 bridge at Dreieck-Funkturm and ongoing strikes initiated by Verdi. However, she attributed several challenges to her predecessors, noting that from 2016 to April 2023, the Green Party was in charge of transportation administration. Bonde argued that their parliamentary proposals have been rife with terms such as crisis and chaos, which she claims undermine public trust in democratic institutions.

Addressing the scrutiny over her crisis management following the closure of the Ringbahn bridge on the A100, Bonde pointed to the collaborative efforts between the transportation administration and the Autobahn GmbH. She also promised a comprehensive master plan for the repair and maintenance of bridges in the city by the summer. Notably, Berlin boasts 867 bridges, a figure that surpasses that of Venice, yet only 21% of these structures are reported to be in good or very good condition. Bonde indicated that around EUR1 billion will need to be allocated over the next decade for the upkeep of 120 bridge structures.