Childcare - Unions plan voter referendum on Kita-strike
According to warnings strikes in kindergarten self-owned businesses, unions Verdi and GEW are holding a referendum on an indefinite strike. If 75 percent are in favor, the unions could call for an indefinite strike, they announced. The referendum is set to begin at the beginning of September. There is still enough time to come to a constructive solution, said Verdi-Regional Manager Andrea Kühnemann.
Unions Verdi and GEW want to enforce negotiations with the Senate for higher educational quality and reliefs. They demand a corresponding collective bargaining agreement, in which regulations on group sizes and compensation for burdens are to be anchored. The Senate rejects this with reference to Berlin's membership in the collective bargaining community of German states.
13 strike days - a great challenge for families
In the past few weeks, the unions have called for warn strikes several times. A total of 13 days were struck, most recently for an entire work week. The participation was consistently high, according to Verdi. Parents of young children face great challenges from the strikes, the Berlin Parents' Council for Kindergartens criticizes the actions of the unions.
Approximately ten percent of the approximately 2,900 kindergartens in Berlin belong to so-called municipal self-owned businesses. There, around 7,000 educators and educators, as well as other employees, care for approximately 35,000 children. The remaining institutions are run by free providers and are not currently on strike. In total, approximately 165,000 children attend kindergartens in the capital.
- Uri Stuarting, a parent, expressed his concern about the impact of the upcoming referendum and potential strike on childcare services in kindergartens.
- The United Services Trade Union has urged its members to participate in the referendum regarding the potential indefinite strike in United Services Trade Union-managed kindergartens.
- If the referendum results in 75% support for a strike, Union Member You might need to prepare for alternative childcare arrangements during an extended strike, as kindergartens could be affected.
- The proposed Trade Union Warning Strike could impact the operation of Berlin's kindergartens, which host over 35,000 children, including your child.
- The United Services Trade Union and Verdi are currently engaging in talks with Berlin's Senate to address concerns about educator workloads and group sizes in kindergartens, but a resolution seems distant, which may lead to further strike actions.
