According to economic researcher Clemens Fuest, the ongoing labor disputes on the railways and in air transport are putting a further damper on the ailing German economy. “This is an additional burden that we actually don’t need,” said the head of the Munich Ifo Institute in the ZDF morning magazine. “The economy is shrinking, and if something like that happens, then suddenly parts are missing from production that cannot be delivered, or people cannot come to meetings, perhaps even to work.” The railways and air transport systemically important areas. “That’s why you have to consider whether everything is still proportionate.” Fuest suggested stricter rules such as longer notice periods for strikes.
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From the economist’s point of view, the sharpness of the collective bargaining disputes can also be seen against the background of the weakening economy. “The cake is getting smaller. What we can distribute becomes smaller and then the strife increases. It is much easier to make concessions in a growing economy.” Fuest added: “But you have to say that in Germany the unions are very sensible overall.” In the last ten years there have been four to five times as many in France There were strike days like in Germany.