1500 teachers on warning strike in Chemnitz and Zwickau
Around 1,500 teachers responded to the call by several trade unions for a warning strike in Chemnitz and Zwickau on Tuesday. "Despite the bad weather, the turnout is enormous and we can increase the pressure before the next round of negotiations," said the state chairman of the Saxon Teachers' Association (SLV), Michael Jung, on request.
The reason for the all-day work stoppage is the stalled collective bargaining for the public sector of the federal states. The third round of negotiations will take place from December 7 to 9 in Potsdam. The unions are demanding 10.5 percent more income, but at least 500 euros more. Junior staff are to receive 200 euros more - and be taken on for an indefinite period. The wage agreement is to run for twelve months. "It's also about valuing the work done," emphasized Jung.
Years of cost-cutting measures and staff reductions in the public sector had led to the Free State urgently needing new teachers, said Steffen Winkler, the SLV's collective bargaining officer. "But the labor market is empty and the public sector is increasingly losing its appeal for young professionals. As a result, eight percent of teaching hours were canceled in Saxony in the last school year."
The trade unions have called on teachers employed at public schools in Leipzig to take part in an all-day warning strike on November 28. Jung also announced that a similar action is planned in Dresden before the next round of negotiations.
The ongoing collective bargaining dispute in the public sector has led to discussions about potential tariff changes. For instance, universities and schools might be affected if the wage agreement includes changes in public service remuneration. The teachers' strike in Chemnitz, Zwickau, and other cities is not only about wages but also about recognizing the value of the work they do.
Source: www.dpa.com
