In late February 2000, four weeks after the German White-Collar Workers' Union (DAG) and the Commerce, Banking and Insurance Union (HBV) disagreed on an agreement for the banking sector concluded between DAG and the employers, HBV finally decided to accept the whole package. Nevertheless, HBV announced that it is still opposed to Saturday work.
On 24 January 2000, the German White-collar Workers' Union (Deutsche Angestellten Gewerkschaft, DAG), along with two smaller federations for salaried employees, concluded a collective agreement with employers for 470,000 employees in the banking sector. The Commerce, Banking and Insurance Union (Gewerkschaft Handel, Banken und Versicherungen, HBV) disagreed with this accord and did not sign it (DE0002236N). HBV's main objection was that DAG had agreed to experiment with Saturday working for two years. From 1 October 2000, bank employees will work on Saturdays, on a voluntary basis, with a maximum of 6% of all employees in any business involved. Existing employees, but not new recruits, will be compensated with time off.
On 21 February, the HBV collective bargaining commission finally decided to accept the whole banking agreement on 21 February 2000. Klaus Carlin, a member of the HBV board, stated that this decision does not influence the general critical attitude of HBV towards Saturday work. A poll amongst the union's members resulted in a clear majority of bank employees voting for a restriction of Saturday work, higher rates of extra pay for such work and equal treatment for all employees. Although about 60% of HBV members voted against acceptance of the collective agreement, HBV did not believe that they were ready for a strike. HBV is now planning to fight within individual banks for an improvement of this "unsatisfactory" agreement, together with employees, works councils and staff councils. Mr Carlin draw a personal conclusion from the course of events and announced his resignation from the executive board of HBV on 28 February.
In a poll, about 95% of the DAG members agreed to accept the collective agreement. According to Gerhard Renner, a member of the DAG board, this high level of approval resulted from the fact that the deal had prevented unlimited Saturday work without extra compensation. In addition, a wage increase which had previously been paid voluntarily has now been legally fixed. All in all, he views the financial outcome of the agreement as satisfactory.