Social workers and educators strike for more pay
They have been complaining about staff shortages, overwork and precarious conditions for a long time. Now state employees in the social and educational services are striking to demand better pay. The warning strike is focused on Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin.
The Verdi trade union has increased the pressure on employers in the wage dispute between employees in the federal states (except Hesse) with warning strikes in the social and educational services. The main impact was felt in Berlin, where the state-owned daycare centers were among those on strike. According to Verdi, around 3,000 employees took part in a demonstration in front of the House of Representatives.
A Verdi spokesperson was unable to provide information on the number of daycare centers in Berlin affected by the warning strikes. According to the union, the state-owned companies with their approximately 7600 educational staff account for around a fifth of the capital's daycare places. At the same time, there were also strikes at daycare centers run by the Workers' Welfare Association, which is negotiating a company collective agreement. Employees from youth welfare offices, social services and schools, including social workers, also went on strike.
According to Verdi, the day of warning strikes also focused on Hamburg and Bremen. According to the union, 1400 employees demonstrated in Bremen. Strikers from various offices and authorities also wanted to gather in Hamburg to support their colleagues from the social and educational services. Unlike in Berlin, for example, there were to be no warning strikes at state-owned daycare centers because they are part of the municipal public service.
They want at least 500 euros more pay
Collective bargaining talks are currently underway for around 1.1 million state employees, with the exception of Hesse. The unions are demanding 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros more per month and compensation for inflation. The employers referred to a difficult budget situation, but have not yet made an offer of their own. There have been two unsuccessful rounds of negotiations so far, with a third round planned for the beginning of December. The unions have announced that they will extend their warning strikes in advance.
Parallel to the day of action in the social and educational services, warning strikes also took place in other administrative areas. In Hamburg, for example, employees in district offices and the fire department were called to strike. In Bavaria, according to Verdi, employees at several universities planned to go on a warning strike, while in Baden-Württemberg, among others, warning strikes were planned by employees of the state monument preservation department.
Source: www.ntv.de
