In Stuttgart, Daimler Benz CEO, Mr. Schrempp, and the head of the company's workers' council, Mr. Feuerstein, agreed to postpone cuts in sick pay. The new contract will be valid until late 1997. According to the unions, sick pay was not discussed during the negotiations. 1997 tax bill talks continue Representatives of the government coalition and the SPD again discussed the 1997 annual tax bill. The group, headed by minister of finance Theo Waigel and the mayor of Hamburg, Henning Voscherau, tried to reach a compromise.
Coalition plans for a one-year postponement of a raise in child benefits are still controversial.
In addition, the Social Democrats demand that the tax on personal funds not be abolished during the planned property tax reform. Before the talks, Waigel appealed to the Social Democrats to show their willingness to reach a compromise. He said that if no agreement could be reached, the federal states would face a loss of 13 billion marks in taxes next year. In a 40-minute phone conversation, chancellor Kohl and Russian minister president Chernomyrdin discussed president Yeltsin's state of health and his imminent heart surgery. According to Interfax news agency, Chernomyrdin confirmed that the Russian surgeons are prepared to accept the assistance of German cardiologists.