In Germany’s day-care centers, educational work is still largely a woman’s job. From the point of view of the trade unions, there is a lack of appreciation. That’s why they call for warning strikes on Women’s Day.
Thousands of educators at municipal daycare centers and other employees in social professions took to the streets nationwide on Tuesday for more income and better working conditions.
The services union Verdi had called for warning strikes and protest rallies on International Women’s Day on March 8 in order to increase the pressure in the ongoing collective bargaining for social services. According to a Verdi spokeswoman, more than 22,000 employees nationwide took part. Municipal employees of the social services and the handicapped aid were also called to warning strikes. In some cases, emergency care was set up.
According to a spokesman for the Verdi district of Lower Saxony and Bremen, around 3,000 employees in the two federal states took part in the campaign. In Saxony, hundreds took part in similar events. Numerous facilities on strike were also reported from other federal states.
Collective bargaining postponed
Collective bargaining for social services was actually planned for spring 2020, but was put on hold after the start of the corona pandemic. The unions argue that the educators should be given more appreciation, especially after two years of the pandemic. Verdi is not demanding a percentage wage increase for the approximately 330,000 employees affected, but rather higher classifications of social professions in the salary brackets. Municipal employers argue that educators already earn better than comparable professions.
Verdi accuses the employers’ association VKA of not being accommodating in the talks. Two rounds of talks are currently planned. According to the current status, the probably decisive one should take place on May 16th and 17th in Potsdam. “International Women’s Day is perfect to strike after the first round of negotiations was a complete disappointment,” stressed Verdi.
A total of around 83 percent of women work in the social professions, and even 94 percent of the educators in day-care centers. So it’s also about equality for women in working life – hence the date for the warning strikes on International Women’s Day.
Source: Stern
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