Verdi announces warning strikes by state employees
The Verdi trade union has announced warning strikes in Lower Saxony and Bremen in the wage dispute in the public sector of the federal states. "Two rounds of negotiations without an offer from the employers - that means for us: there is a massive lack of appreciation for the work of our colleagues in the administrations and companies of the federal states," said Stefanie Reich, deputy Verdi regional director, according to a statement. The campaign will start on Monday in Braunschweig and Oldenburg, followed by Lüneburg on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, state employees in universities, university hospitals, road maintenance depots and state administrations in Hanover and Bremen will be called out on warning strike. On Thursday, the focus will be on the social and educational services in Bremen. Verdi has also announced several rallies.
The wage dispute in the public sector of the federal states is about the salaries of around 1.1 million employees nationwide. Around 1.4 million civil servants, to whom the result is usually transferred, would also be affected. A third round of negotiations is planned for December 7.
Verdi is demanding 10.5 percent more income for public sector employees in the federal states, but at least 500 euros more per month. Junior staff are to receive 200 euros more and trainees are to be taken on indefinitely. The Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) with its chief negotiator, Hamburg's Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD), had made it clear in the second round of negotiations at the beginning of November that it considered the demands to be far too high and unaffordable.
The Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) has expressed its view that Verdi's demand for a 10.5% wage increase and at least 500 euros more per month for public sector employees is too high and unaffordable. In response to the lack of a suitable offer from employers, trade unions like Verdi have resorted to strikes, such as the warning strikes announced by Verdi in Lower Saxony and Bremen, which could potentially escalate to strikes in universities, university hospitals, road maintenance depots, and state administrations if the wage dispute remains unresolved.
Source: www.dpa.com
