Ice cream & commitment: ver.di strengthens employees in the region!

Ice cream & commitment: ver.di strengthens employees in the region!

Things are moving in Cologne! On August 11, 2025, union secretary Marco Bedrich toured the region in a red Piaggio Ape to launch a refreshing and at the same time informative campaign under the motto “ver.di brings ice cream & commitment”. The aim of the initiative was not only to offer employees in many different places such as administrations, daycare centers and care facilities a place to cool down, but also to strengthen the trade union presence and promote exchanges about current issues that are important to many people.

The mobile ice cream parlor was very well received. In the brilliant weather, numerous employees took the opportunity to treat themselves to an ice cream and chat about important questions such as everyday work and collective bargaining issues. Bedrich made it clear how important visibility and appreciation are for employees, especially in times when there are many vacationer representations.

Relevance of labor law issues

Similar campaigns are intended not only in Cologne, but also in other places such as the BKH Augsburg to draw attention to important labor law issues. A similar event took place on June 17th, where the ver.di union distributed ice cream to make the day more pleasant for the employees. They were informed about a recent ruling by the Federal Labor Court, which states that part-time employees are entitled to overtime bonuses from the first hour of overtime. The aim was to encourage employees to know their rights and to actively exercise them.

The response from employees was consistently positive, and the ice cream not only served as refreshment, but also symbolized the union's appreciation for the employees' hard work. Such actions send a strong signal for fair working conditions and legal protection for everyone, whether full-time or part-time.

Collective bargaining in focus

Behind all these actions is an important topic: collective bargaining. These are crucial for determining working conditions and wages in Germany. According to rechtecheck.de, these discussions between trade unions and employers' associations are one of the central points in the economic discourse. This is not just about wages, but also about general conditions such as more flexible working time models, which are intended to ensure a better work-life balance.

Current developments show that demands for higher wages are becoming increasingly urgent in view of the rising cost of living. Employers, on the other hand, often point to economic uncertainties. Nevertheless, successful collective bargaining is essential to reduce social inequalities and strengthen social cohesion.

In times of change, be it due to globalization, digitalization or demographic change, it remains important that unions continue to stand up for workers' rights. This is not only a question of social peace, but also of economic stability.