Verdi calls for "city-state strike day" on Wednesday
As part of the ongoing warning strikes in the public sector wage dispute in the federal states, the Verdi trade union is calling on employees in Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin to take part in a "city-state strike day". Thousands of employees from all areas of the public service of the federal states are expected to take part in demonstrations in Berlin and Hamburg on Wednesday, as the union announced on Friday. Bremen employees will join the rallies in Hamburg.
In the wage negotiations that began at the end of October, Verdi and other trade unions are demanding a 10.5 percent increase in income for employees in the public sector of the federal states, but at least 500 euros more per month - for a period of twelve months. Trainees are to receive 200 euros more. For employees in Bremen, Hamburg and Berlin, Verdi is also demanding a city-state bonus of 300 euros more per month. Junior staff should receive 150 euros more.
"Unlike in the other territorial states, municipal tasks are also carried out by state employees in the city states - but in many cases they are paid less than employees at local authorities," the union said in justification. For example, there are different groupings for certain activities and no equal higher grouping, which also results in less money.
Last year, Verdi also achieved "noticeable improvements" in the social and educational services in the municipalities. Employees in the federal states would not receive these. "In total, this means between 300 and 600 euros less than municipal employees," explained Verdi.
The deputy chairwoman of the union, Christine Behle, emphasized: "Employees must be able to afford to work in Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen, which is why they are fighting for a city-state bonus." Living in large cities is significantly more expensive than in the surrounding areas. Many employees have therefore already changed jobs or are thinking about it. According to her, another problem is that fewer and fewer young people are opting for an apprenticeship in the city states because there is no affordable housing for them there.
In response to the federal states' public sector wage dispute, Verdi is advocating for a "city-state strike day" in Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin, demanding a city-state bonus of 300 euros more per month for employees in these cities. Despite performing similar municipal tasks, state employees in these city-states often receive less pay due to different groupings and lower wages, leading to a significant income disparity compared to municipal employees.
Source: www.dpa.com
