In Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, thousands of public sector employees have stopped work. Schools, daycare centers and district offices, among others, were on strike. There has so far been no agreement in collective bargaining between the states.
In the city states of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, thousands of public sector employees have stopped their jobs and at least hindered operations in schools, daycare centers and administrative authorities.
According to the unions, around 10,000 state employees took part in the warning strike in Berlin alone. Many of them marched to the Brandenburg Gate to demand better working conditions and better pay. The capital’s public services have been “paralyzed across the board,” said the ver.di union. Senate administrations, district offices, daycare centers, universities, schools, police departments and fire departments, among others, were on strike.
Classes were canceled in many schools, daycare centers remained closed, and some citizens’ offices only worked to a limited extent. “It is very clear that our colleagues expect something because otherwise they would no longer be able to live in the city in which they work,” said a ver.di spokeswoman on the sidelines of the demonstration. According to ver.di, up to 7,000 employees gathered in Hamburg for a central strike rally. There are no participant numbers from Bremen yet.
Demand: 10.5 percent more money, at least 500 euros
The background is the collective bargaining for the public sector in the states except Hesse. There had been no agreement in two rounds of the nationwide negotiations. The 15 countries that make up the Collective Bargaining Association of German States (TdL) point to a difficult budget situation, but have not yet made their own offer. Hesse is not a member of the TdL and negotiates separately.
“The states have not submitted any offers in two rounds of negotiations. This is a disrespect to the employees,” explained the ver.di state manager for Berlin-Brandenburg, Andrea Kühnemann.
Among other things, the unions are demanding 10.5 percent more money, but at least 500 euros per month for a period of twelve months. For Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, the unions are also demanding a city-state allowance of 300 euros. The collective bargaining negotiations for around 1.1 million employees, which have been ongoing since the end of October, are scheduled to enter their third round at the beginning of December.
Strikes planned in university hospitals
In the run-up to the new round of negotiations, the unions announced increased warning strike actions in different areas. This week, among others, university employees and student assistants at universities as well as trainees and other young employees in the public sector have already gone on strike. On Thursday ver.di wants to start a two-day warning strike in the healthcare sector. This particularly affects the university hospitals where the state collective agreement applies.