Disruptions caused by labor protests - Verdi reports that about 2500 nursery nurses are staging a warning strike.
Around 2,500 educators participated in a protest for better working conditions in municipal kindergartens across Berlin last Thursday, as reported by the union Verdi. This resulted in the closure of up to two-thirds of the approximately 280 affected facilities, leaving 35,000 children without care.
Strikers gathered at a rally outside the parliament building, displaying yellow cards in protest. They loudly called for the senate to negotiate better working conditions and relief for kindergarten staff.
Verdi is demanding a collective bargaining agreement that would prioritize pedagogical quality and alleviate the staff shortages commonly found in kindergartens. This agreement would cover topics such as group size, stress relief, and additional training. However, the senate has refused to negotiate, citing their involvement in the Tariff Community of German States (TdL), which restricts their ability to act independently.
Berlin has over 2,900 kindergartens in total, with 165,000 children enrolled and many belonging to private providers. The remaining 10% are state-run, with approximately 7,600 employees targeted by Verdi's strike. Despite these efforts, the senate still refuses to engage in wage negotiations. As a result, municipal kindergartens will begin striking from the following Monday, according to Verdi.
The Berlin Parents' Committee for Kindergartens, which claims to represent all parents of kindergarten-attending children, criticized the strike action. They noted that many parents were unable to find alternative care for their children on short notice. According to the committee, any improvements in kindergartens should be made over a longer period of time rather than through "uncertain strike measures."
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The United Services Union expressed solidarity with Verdi's kindergarten workers, stating they were prepared to join forces in the event of a city-wide strike.
The warning strike by Verdi also prompted a response from private kindergarten providers, who threatened to initiate their own strikes if their employees' wages were to be affected.
Following the announcement of municipal kindergartens' planned strikes, representatives from the Berlin Airport discovered potential disruptions to childcare services provided at the airport, raising concerns about potential impact on airport operations.
In response to the kindergarten strikes, the Berlin government announced an emergency meeting with trade unions and private providers, aiming to prevent further escalations and avoid potential uncertainties affecting working parents and children.
