BFFS, GDBA and VdO demand: Reform NV Bühne in line with the times, conclude collective agreement for guests.
BFFS and GDBA terminate NV Bühne at the end of the year. All three unions condemn the fact that the Bühnenverein then suspends the almost imminent conclusion of a first collective agreement for touring artists.
Berlin/Hamburg/Cologne, 01.07.2024
The three artists' unions want to make the NV Bühne collective agreement fit for the future by the end of the year. A collective agreement that is tailored to the specific artistic and social needs of theaters and their employees is an important foundation of the German theater landscape. In its current form, the NV Bühne is far from meeting current standards and is therefore no longer viable in the 21st century.
In order to drive forward the urgently needed reform, BFFS and GDBA, in close coordination with the VdO, have terminated the NV Bühne with effect from December 31, 2024. This step is a first in the industry, but it is also part of normal trade union practice.
"With the dismissal, we are creating the conditions to do justice to our very own task, namely to use trade union means to achieve better working conditions for employees. We have owed this step to our members for years," said Lisa Jopt, Executive President of GDBA.
If the collective bargaining negotiations remain unsuccessful until December 31, BFFS and GDBA would be able to take industrial action from the new year. They would then no longer be subject to the peace obligation.
In addition to the reform of the NV Bühne, the trade unions have been negotiating a first collective agreement for guest artists for over a year. Collective regulations on vacation and payment in the event of illness and performance cancellations are long overdue. Agreement had already been reached between the parties, and a deal was imminent.
The trade unions will not accept the fact that the DBV is now suspending this agreement in response to the dismissal.
"Through the unacceptable refusal of the German Stage Association, the employers' association is deliberately holding the guest artists hostage and making them the bargaining chip for the urgently needed improvement of the ensembles and collectives," says Gerrit Wedel, Deputy Managing Director of the VdO.
The justification that the termination of the NV Bühne removes the legal basis for a collective agreement for guests is irritating. During the negotiations, the DBV itself insisted on the creation of an agreement independent of the NV Bühne.
Heinrich Schafmeister, negotiating representative of the BFFS: "The German Stage Association actually wants to sanction the long overdue and now completed termination of the NV Bühne by the BFFS and GDBA, an unbelievable process."
The BFFS, GDBA and VdO are calling on the DBV to return to the negotiating table and to no longer withhold from guest artists the collective agreements that have already been reached.
BFFS, GDBA and VdO demand: Reform NV Bühne in line with the times, conclude collective agreement for guests.
BFFS and GDBA terminate NV Bühne at the end of the year. All three trade unions condemn the fact that the Bühnenverein then suspends the almost imminent conclusion of a first collective agreement for guest artists.
Berlin/Hamburg/Cologne, 01.07.2024
The three artists' unions want to finalize the NV Bühne collective agreement by the end of the year and thus make the theatres fit for the future. A collective agreement that is tailored to the specific artistic and social needs of theatres and their employees is an important foundation of the German theatre landscape. In its current form, the NV Bühne is far from meeting current standards and is therefore no longer viable in the 21st century.
In order to drive forward the urgently needed reform, the BFFS and GDBA, in close coordination with the VdO, have terminated the NV Bühne with effect from 31 December 2024. This step is a first in the industry, but it is also part of normal trade union practice.
"By terminating the agreement, we are creating the conditions for us to fulfill our primary task, namely to use trade union means to achieve better working conditions for employees. We have owed this step to our members for years," said Lisa Jopt, Executive President of GDBA.
If the collective bargaining negotiations remain unsuccessful until 31 December, the BFFS and GDBA would be able to take industrial action from the new year. They would then no longer be subject to the peace obligation.
In addition to the reform of the NV Bühne, the trade unions have been negotiating a first collective agreement for guest artists for over a year. Collective regulations on holidays and payment in the event of illness and cancellation of performances are long overdue. Agreement had already been reached between the parties to the collective bargaining agreement and a deal was imminent.
The fact that the DBV is now suspending this agreement in response to the cancellation will not be accepted by the unions.
"With the unacceptable refusal of the German Theatre Association, the employers' association is deliberately holding the guest artists hostage and making them a bargaining chip for the urgently needed improvement of the ensembles and collectives," says Gerrit Wedel, Deputy Managing Director of VdO.
The justification that the cancellation of the NV Bühne removes the legal basis for a collective agreement for guests is irritating. During the negotiations, the DBV itself insisted on the creation of an agreement independent of the NV Bühne.
Heinrich Schafmeister, BFFS authorized negotiator: "The German Stage Association actually wants to sanction the long overdue and now completed termination of the NV Bühne by the BFFS and GDBA, an unbelievable process."
The BFFS, GDBA and VdO are calling on the DBV to return to the negotiating table and to no longer withhold the collective agreements that have already been reached from guest artists.
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