Childcare - Five-day warning strike announced in Berlin daycare centers
The union Verdi calls for a five-day warning strike starting from Monday in the kindergarten self-managed businesses. The Berlin Senate continues to refuse the initiation of negotiations on a wage contract for pedagogical quality and relief for the kindergarten self-managed businesses, Verdi announced. This is a "slap in the face of striking pedagogical professionals who are fighting for their profession," they added.
During the warning strike, different action focal points are planned for each day. It is set to begin on Monday with a rally in front of the CDU headquarters and the Rathaus Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
The situation is complicated: Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) has recently criticized Verdi sharply and spoken of "senseless strikes at the expense of children and parents." According to his statements, Berlin cannot negotiate a corresponding wage contract with Verdi, which among other things, would regulate group sizes and compensation for burdens. Evers argues that Berlin is a member of the Tarifgemeinschaft der Länder (TdL) and therefore cannot make decisions on tariff-related matters alone. Verdi criticizes this stance as unconvincing.
According to the Senate, there are around 2,900 kindergartens in Berlin, many of which are run by free providers. About 165,000 children are cared for there. The warning strike affects around 280 municipal kindergartens. There, approximately 7,000 female and male childcare workers and other employees care for around 35,000 children.
- The United Services Union, a trade union, has aligned itself with Verdi, supporting the upcoming five-day warning strike in Berlin's kindergarten self-managed businesses.
- In response to the Berlin Senate's refusal to negotiate on a wage contract for pedagogical quality and relief, the Senate House of Representatives will be a target during the warning strike's first day.
- Despite the Berlin Senate's criticism from Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) of Verdi's senseless strikes, disrupting children and parents, the United Services Union maintains its stance in supporting the childcare workers' fight for better conditions.
- On Monday, the warning strike will begin with a rally in front of the CDU headquarters and Rathaus Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, sending a strong message to the Senate and the CDU party.
- The Berlin Senate union, United Services Union, and Verdi are deeply concerned about the impact of the strike on the 35,000 children cared for in the affected 280 municipal kindergartens, operated by around 7,000 employees.
- The Union Verdi's warning strike aims to draw attention to the Berlin Senate's neglect of fair wage contracts, group sizes, and compensation for burdens in kindergarten self-managed businesses, a concern shared by multiple trade unions, including the United Services Union.
