The public sector workers’ warning strikes hit hospitals in particular this week. On Monday and Tuesday, the employees at the Augsburg University Hospital should stop working, on Tuesday and Wednesday the employees of the Nuremberg Clinic, the Fürth Clinic and various locations of the district clinics in Central Franconia, the Verdi union said.
There will be “due to the warning strike, unfortunately, there will be significant restrictions in medical care,” said the Nuremberg Clinic: “Operations have to be canceled, including tumor operations.” Operations that absolutely cannot be postponed are taking place. The warning strike will begin early on Tuesday and end after the night shift on Thursday morning. The nurse and spokeswoman for the operating group at the Nuremberg Clinic, Anja Schmailzl, said: “We have been paying for the failed health policy with our physical and mental health for years.” There is an “enormous willingness to strike”.
Verdi wants to push through 10.5 percent more wages for the 2.5 million federal and local employees nationwide, but at least 500 euros more per month. Employers are gradually offering five percent more for a two-year term and a one-off payment of 2,500 euros. The third round of negotiations will take place at the end of March. For Tuesday and Wednesday, the union called all employees of the psychiatric clinic in Haar near Munich to strike. They are heavily burdened by shift and weekend work and understaffing.
In closed facilities, corona regulations would have restricted patients’ visits and social contacts and greatly increased the risk of escalation. Outpatient help had been reduced: “Because the people outside could not be cared for, clinical care was needed and only the tip of the iceberg could be treated there,” said Verdi.
Next week, public utilities, waste power plants, administrations and savings banks are to be struck again, and some daycare centers again. “We will not let up on this until the next round of negotiations from March 27,” said Sinan Öztürk, Deputy Regional Manager of Verdi. Federal chairman Frank Werneke wants to speak at a strike rally in Bayreuth on Wednesday.