Collective bargaining: warning strikes in day-care centers and in social work after May 1st

collective bargaining
Warning strikes in day-care centers and in social work after May 1st

From May 2nd, employees in the social and educational professions are called upon to go on warning strikes. So far there has been no agreement on the wage conflict. Photo: Ole Spata/dpa

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Around 300,000 skilled workers would be missing in day-care centers alone by 2025. Verdi draws attention to abuses in the social professions and calls for a strike.

In the collective bargaining dispute in the social and educational professions, the Verdi union has called on employees nationwide to go on warning strikes at the beginning of next week. Affected are, for example, daycare centers, after-school care centers, but also help for the disabled.

This is intended to increase the pressure on municipal employers before the third round of negotiations on May 16 and 17 in Potsdam, according to the union in Berlin. Collective bargaining for around 330,000 employees in social and educational services was adjourned on March 22nd without result.

Verdi: Disappointment with employers is “massive”

There have been numerous regional work stoppages in recent weeks. “The disappointment with the attitude of the employers, who have so far refused a specific offer, is massive,” says Deputy Verdi Chairwoman Christine Behle. On Monday (May 2nd) the employees of the social work, on Wednesday (May 4th) those in day care centers and the school all day and on Thursday (May 5th) the employees of the disabled help should go on strike.

By 2025, around 300,000 skilled workers would be missing in the day-care centers alone, says Behle, referring to calculations by the German Youth Institute. The situation is no better in social work and in helping the disabled. During the corona pandemic, the shortage of skilled workers became even more acute: “The pressure to work in the social professions is increasing.”

Better pay and more attractive conditions

Verdi is leading the negotiations together with the civil servants’ association dbb, on the other side of the negotiating table are representatives of the association of municipal employers’ associations. In addition to better pay, the trade unions are also demanding more attractive working conditions for the employees – for example more time for the preparation and follow-up of educational work. The collective bargaining partners resumed negotiations in February after a pandemic break of almost two years.

dpa

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