der  Tarifvertrag

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/taˈʁiːfˌfɛɐ̯ˌtʁaːk/

📜 What Exactly is a Tarifvertrag?

A Tarifvertrag is a written contract concluded between employers' associations or individual employers on one side and trade unions (Gewerkschaften) on the other. It regulates the rights and obligations of employees (Arbeitnehmer) and employers (Arbeitgeber) within a specific scope (e.g., an industry sector, a company) and sets binding minimum standards for working conditions (Arbeitsbedingungen).

Typical contents include:

• Wages and salaries (Entgelt)
• Working hours (Arbeitszeiten)
• Holiday entitlement (Urlaubsanspruch)
• Notice periods (Kündigungsfristen)
• Special payments (e.g., Weihnachtsgeld - Christmas bonus, Urlaubsgeld - holiday bonus)

The Tarifvertrag takes precedence over individual employment contracts if its provisions are more favourable to the employee (principle of favourability - Günstigkeitsprinzip). It ensures equal conditions for many employees and provides planning certainty for companies.

🚨 Important: The article is always der Tarifvertrag (masculine).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Check: Der Tarifvertrag in Detail

The word "Tarifvertrag" is a masculine noun. Its declension is as follows:

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der neue Tarifvertrag tritt am ersten Januar in Kraft.
   (The new collective agreement comes into force on January 1st.)
2. Die Gewerkschaft verhandelt über die Inhalte des Tarifvertrags.
   (The union is negotiating the contents of the collective agreement.)
3. Dem Tarifvertrag stimmen beide Seiten zu.
   (Both sides agree to the collective agreement.)
4. Viele Arbeitnehmer profitieren von den Regelungen im neuen Tarifvertrag.
   (Many employees benefit from the regulations in the new collective agreement.)
5. Die Laufzeit der meisten Tarifverträge beträgt ein bis zwei Jahre.
   (The duration of most collective agreements is one to two years.)

💼 When and How is "Tarifvertrag" Used?

The term Tarifvertrag is central to German labor law (Arbeitsrecht) and the world of work. It's used whenever collective regulation of working conditions is discussed.

• Context: Labor law, union negotiations, human resources, business news.
• Users: Trade unions (Gewerkschaften), employers' associations (Arbeitgeberverbände), companies, employees, lawyers, politicians, journalists.
• Purpose: Describing the instrument for setting wages, working hours, etc., for a group of employees.

Compared to an Individualarbeitsvertrag (or simply Arbeitsvertrag - individual employment contract), which only applies between one employer and one employee, the Tarifvertrag sets standards for many. One also speaks of Tarifbindung (collective agreement coverage) when an employer or employee falls under the scope of a Tarifvertrag.

There are different types of Tarifverträge, e.g.:

• Manteltarifvertrag: Regulates general framework conditions like working hours, vacation, notice periods.
• Lohn- und Gehaltstarifvertrag: Determines the level of remuneration.

🧠 Mnemonics for Memorization

For the article 'der': Think of der Chef (the boss) or der Gewerkschaftsführer (the union leader) - often male figures - negotiating or signing der Vertrag (the contract). It's der big, dominant agreement.

For the meaning: Break down the word! Tarif might remind you of 'tariff' (rates, fees, like a phone tariff). A Vertrag is a 'contract'. So, a Tarifvertrag is literally a 'contract about tariffs (wages) and other working conditions'.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Caution: A Betriebsvereinbarung is not a Tarifvertrag, even though it contains collective regulations. It is concluded at the company level between the works council and the employer, not with a trade union.

😄 A Little Joke on the Topic

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Sind Sie mit den Bedingungen unseres Tarifvertrags vertraut?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, sicher! Deswegen habe ich ja hier angefangen – ich dachte, der gilt auch für Sie!"

Translation:

The boss asks the new employee: "Are you familiar with the terms of our collective agreement?"
The employee replies: "Yes, of course! That's why I started working here – I thought it applied to you too!"

📜 A Poem About the Tarifvertrag

Der Pakt der Arbeit

Papier, bedruckt, mit Siegel fest,
Der Tarifvertrag, hält stand im Test.
Gewerkschaft ringt, Arbeitgeber lenkt,
Bis man sich auf Regeln schwenkt.

Mehr Lohn, mehr Urlaub, Zeit geregelt klar,
Für viele gilt's, Jahr für Jahr.
Ein Schutz, ein Rahmen, oft erstritten,
Damit nicht Willkür herrscht inmitten.

Von Flensburg bis nach Oberammergau,
Macht er die Arbeitswelt nicht grau,
Sondern fair – so ist's gedacht,
Hat Stärke und auch Bindungsmacht.

Translation: The Pact of Labour

Paper, printed, firmly sealed,
The collective pact, its strength revealed.
Union wrestles, employer bends,
Until on rules agreement descends.

More pay, more leave, time clearly defined,
For many it holds, year after year enshrined.
A shield, a framework, often hard-won,
Lest arbitrariness should overrun.

From North Sea coast to Alpine height,
It doesn't make the work-world blight,
But fair – that is the core intent,
With binding power, its strength is lent.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Pakt, von vielen Händen,
soll gleiche Regeln allen spenden.
Lohn und Zeit schreib ich oft fest,
bin mehr als nur ein Einzeltest.
Die Gewerkschaft kennt mich gut,
geb Arbeitnehmern frischen Mut.
Mal dick, mal dünn, mein Inhalt zählt,
was bin ich, das die Arbeit wählt?

Translation:

I am a pact, made by many hands,
Meant to bestow the same rules across the lands.
Wages and hours I often decree,
I'm more than just a test for one, you see.
The union knows me very well,
Giving employees courage, breaking the spell.
Sometimes thick, sometimes thin, my content matters most,
What am I, chosen by the working host?

Solution: Der Tarifvertrag (The collective bargaining agreement)

ℹ️ Additional Info & Trivia

Word Composition:

The word "Tarifvertrag" is a compound noun (Kompositum), composed of:

• Der Tarif (from Arabic/Italian): A fixed fee, a price list, a wage scale.
• Der Vertrag: A legally binding agreement between two or more parties.

So literally: A contract about tariffs (and other working conditions).

Cultural Significance:

Tarifverträge are a core component of the German Soziale Marktwirtschaft (social market economy) and Tarifautonomie (autonomy of collective bargaining). This autonomy (guaranteed by Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the German Basic Law - Grundgesetz) grants trade unions and employers' associations the right to regulate working and economic conditions through collective agreements without state interference. This is considered a key factor for social peace and economic stability in Germany.