The DGB has presented a study on temporary work. Meanwhile, the precarious employment of many wage-earners has become commonplace.
Lutz Getzschmann
appearance in Jungle World of 17 February 2011
http://jungle-world.com/artikel/2011/07/42633.htmlJ you work on call and earn significantly less than permanent employees. Even if they are in a full-time employment, temporary workers have to make do with a salary that barely more than half the regular rate of pay accounts. This is the result of a study conducted by the DGB has presented in early February. Not only low hourly wages contribute to the precarious situation of workers in the temporary agencies, but also for example the working time or non-payment of overtime pay. More than 60 percent of agency staff have completed professional training. Although they are often not according to their qualifications are used, they are not unqualified for the temporary agency for employment.
In 2009 the average gross monthly salary of temporary staff was in the former West Germany in 1456 € a month in East Germany and Berlin, it was even only 1224 €. In the same period the median was Gross income of all full-time workers in 2805 €. Nationwide, 10.5 percent were all full-time temporary workers to less than 1 000 € gross per month, in the East there were even 21 percent. Another 20 percent earned only 1001-1200 €, in the East there are also more than a quarter. 13.1 percent of all social insurance agency staff employed are dependent on additional support from ALG II. This proportion has increased by 60 percent within a year.
addition to these results is not the DGB-consuming field research study, but by a simple analysis of the pay statistics the Federal Employment Agency. So far, no one had made this effort, there are no more differentiated according to data from the wages of temporary staff. The study reveals for the first time, that agency now has a significant influence on wage labor in Germany. The conclusion of the authors is unambiguous. "Temporary work is no longer just used it to catch operating order peaks, but more and more press also to wage a strong cost and undermine collective bargaining arrangements in the use of companies'
Alarming results also brought a survey of IG Metall in 5150 works. Their claims to represent the companies again reinforced. Additional employment is thereby almost six times more often covered by temporary and fixed-term contracts than permanent settings. 85 percent of companies use an additional demand on precarious jobs, of which 43 percent to 42 percent on temporary work and temporary contracts. The crisis has accelerated the restructuring of the labor market, with the associated an attack on the "normal employment".
goods in 2008, the first contract workers who were laid off during the economic crisis, were now employed in Germany again about 825 000 temporary workers. By the use of short-time work could be avoided mass layoffs, the decline in employment was mainly at the expense of hired workers from temporary agencies. Immediately after the end of the short-notice work already 20 percent of the works that permanent staff have been replaced by contract workers. In companies with 1000-2000 employees, this development is most evident.
The unions are beginning to recognize that the boom in temporary employment a threat to collective standards is the core and its position in the companies and their fighting ability fundamentally into question. Even 2007, the DGB board member Claus Matecki given in this question of capital-friendly and supportive attitude. "If a company three to four percent of temporary workers are employed is, however, nothing to say. But this figure is often exceeded by far with 20 or even 30 percent, "said Matecki. For the company that was ultimately not a wise decision. "Because with the melting of the core workforce is a lot of know-how is lost. But just that makes the strength of the German economy. "
Accordingly, the campaigns presented for" fairness "in the agency who had developed especially Verdi and IG Metall. The collective community of the DGB-time work with employers in the industry agreed collective agreements are somewhat higher than the Christians of the "unions" agreed rules. But with a gross hourly wage from the current 7.60 euros and 6.65 euros in the west to the east in the lower segments have to speak here of wage dumping. The loudly demanded by the DGB unions minimum wage for the temporary employment sector can only be described as a bad joke at such rate lower limits.
At least, the DGB has now not with the cheap competition to deal with yellow unions. In mid-December, called the Federal Labour Court, the Christian Union for temporary employment and personnel service agencies (CGZP) as incapable of collective and stated thus their infamous house wage agreements void.
Some temporary workers who were previously employed on the basis of such dumping agreements, now want to sue retroactively for the labor courts the same pay that was given to the permanent staff at the premises in which they were used. Representatives from Verdi estimate that nationwide 300000-400000 employee entitlements to reimbursement of the wage difference. Entrepreneurs and community media fear now numerous processes and payments in the billions.
Were the major unions now the subject of temporary agency to the limit of compromise shown by requiring only "Equal Pay", we are starting to appear willing to at least verbally radical tone to strike. In the past, interest in temporary workers was rather low. Their interest in unionization was considered low and the industrial action against employment agencies were difficult. Meanwhile, things look different, temporary and other precarious forms of employment have become an integral part of employment relationships. Insecurity and deprivation of rights at work are for a significant proportion of the workforce a reality.
The DGB is now calling for a nationwide day of action under the motto "work - safe and fair" on 24 February on. That wage dumping and precarious employment to be made the subject is a step forward. But that the union leadership still can not bring itself to a fundamental rejection of temporary work is disturbing, given the explosiveness of the topic to the bases of any form of union countervailing power in the workplace.
The call for action on the request made for equal pay for equal work does have the practical tariff policies of the unions out, but the real threat to the repeal and worker participation by temporary employment and temporary employment hardly do justice.
