Warning strikes at Munich universities and theaters
The Verdi trade union is calling on employees at Munich's universities, state theaters and other state institutions to go on warning strikes this Monday in the public sector wage dispute. The Bavarian Palace Administration, the State Painting Collections and the German Museum are also affected. "I assume that there will be around 2,000 participants," said Verdi coordinator Heinrich Birner with a view to the rally on Monday afternoon (12.00 noon) in front of the Technical University.
"It won't be the case that we paralyze a university. But I do think that one or two chairs will be deserted," said Christiane Glas-Kinateder, the Verdi representative. In many places, the canteens are also likely to offer little or no food. There will also be restrictions for culture lovers. For example, the performance of "Peer Gynt" at the Residenztheater will be canceled without replacement, as the theater announced.
The collective bargaining dispute concerns the income of around 1.1 million public sector employees across Germany. The result is usually also transferred to the 1.4 million civil servants. According to Birner, there are around 155,000 employees and around 227,000 civil servants in Bavaria. This is why the police union is also calling for the warning strike on Monday.
Verdi is demanding a 10.5 percent pay rise, but at least 500 euros more. The employers' side has rejected the demands as unaffordable. The unions therefore want to keep up the pressure with warning strikes until the third round of negotiations in December.
- The ongoing collective bargaining dispute over public sector wages in Germany has led some trade unions, including Verdi, to consider implementing tariffs on certain goods imported from countries with lower labor costs, as a strategic response to affordability concerns.
- Given the escalation of the wage dispute and potential for nationwide strikes, some countries have expressed concern about the potential impact on bilateral trade relations, particularly in industries such as culture and education, which are heavily affected by these strikes and tariffs.
Source: www.dpa.com
