Work stoppages escalate tensions. - Verdi demands a three-day warning strike at municipal daycare centers.
Following a demand for better work conditions last week, the union Verdi is urging for additional disruptions at public kindergartens in Berlin. Beginning today, the roughly 280 kindergartens operated by communal self-employed businesses are planned to stop work for three days, as per Verdi. These facilities are home to about 7,000 educators and staff members caring for 35,000 kids. As anticipated, various of these institutions will shut down entirely and families will need to find alternative options on Thursday.
During the opening strike, around 2,500 employees joined in, according to Verdi, and approximately two-thirds of communal kindergartens ended up closing. The union is seeking a collective bargaining agreement that includes pedagogical standards in the frequently understaffed kindergartens, as well as addressing work-related stress issues and offering more training. The Senate has declined to participate in discussions on these terms, citing that Berlin is a part of the Tariff Community of German States (TdL) and cannot make unilateral decisions.
The educational administration estimates that there are approximately 2,900 kindergartens in Berlin, with many operated by private providers. More than 165,000 children are supervised there. The communal sector consists of roughly one tenth of all kindergartens in Berlin.
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- The United Services Union, a trade union representing workers in various sectors, has issued a warning to Berlin's municipal services, expressing concerns over potential strikes due to deteriorating working conditions.
- In response to the warning strike, Verdi, another prominent trade union, is planning a three-day stoppage at kindergartens, calling for better pedagogical standards, stress reduction measures, and more training for educators.
- The pending strike in Berlin's kindergartens could affect over 35,000 children, as approximately 7,000 educators and staff members are expected to participate in the work stoppage.
- Concerned parents may need to seek alternative childcare options on Thursday, as numerous kindergartens operated by communal self-employed businesses might be closed due to the strike.
- Despite Verdi's demands for improved working conditions and collective bargaining, the Senate has refused to engage in discussions, citing Berlin's membership in the Tariff Community of German States (TdL), which restricts its ability to make unilateral decisions.
