Public sector employees in Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are on strike. They want more money and better working conditions. The ongoing collective bargaining has not yet produced any results.
In the city states of Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, thousands of public sector employees have stopped their jobs and at least hindered operations in schools, daycare centers and administrative authorities. According to the unions, around 10,000 state employees took part in the warning strike in Berlin alone. In Hamburg there were up to 6,500. There are currently no numbers of participants from Bremen.
Many of them marched in the capital in a demonstration to the Brandenburg Gate to demand better working conditions and better pay. These included teachers, educators from daycare centers and schools, employees from senate and district administrations and from various offices, firefighters and police employees. Classes were canceled in many schools, daycare centers remained closed, and some citizens’ offices only worked to a limited extent. “It is very clear that our colleagues expect something because otherwise they would no longer be able to live in the city in which they work,” said a Verdi spokeswoman on the sidelines of the demonstration.
The background is the collective bargaining for the public sector in the federal states. There had been no agreement in two rounds of the nationwide negotiations. “The states have not submitted any offers in two rounds of negotiations. This is a disrespect to the employees,” explained Verdi state manager for Berlin-Brandenburg, Andrea Kühnemann.
Among other things, the unions are demanding 10.5 percent more money, but at least 500 euros per month for a period of twelve months. For Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, the unions are also demanding a city-state allowance of 300 euros. The next round of negotiations is planned for December 7th and 8th in Potsdam.
Source: Stern
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