Thousands on the streets
Social workers and educators are on strike for more pay
November 16, 2023, 9:06 p.m
They have long been complaining about staff shortages, overwork and precarious conditions. Now the state employees in the social and educational services are stopping their work and demanding better pay. The focus of the warning strike is in Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin.
In the collective bargaining dispute between employees in the federal states (except Hesse), the Verdi union increased the pressure on employers with warning strikes in the social and educational services. The effects were particularly noticeable in Berlin, where, among other things, the state-owned daycare centers went on strike. According to Verdi, around 3,000 employees took part in a demonstration in front of the House of Representatives.
A Verdi spokesman was unable to provide any information about the number of daycare centers in Berlin affected by the warning strikes. According to the union, the state-owned companies with their around 7,600 educational professionals account for around a fifth of the capital’s daycare places. At the same time, workers’ welfare daycare centers were also on strike there, where a collective agreement was being negotiated. Employees of youth and social welfare offices and schools, including social workers, also went on strike.
According to Verdi, other focal points of the warning strike action day were in Hamburg and Bremen. According to the union, 1,400 employees demonstrated in Bremen. In Hamburg, too, strikers from various offices and authorities wanted to gather to support their colleagues from the social and educational services. Unlike in Berlin, for example, there should be no warning strikes by the state’s own daycare providers because they are part of the municipal public service.
You want at least 500 euros more salary
Collective bargaining negotiations are currently underway for around 1.1 million employees in the states, with the exception of Hesse. The unions are demanding 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros more money per month and compensation for inflation. The employers pointed to a difficult budget situation, but have not yet made any offers of their own. There have been two unsuccessful rounds of negotiations so far, and a third round is planned for the beginning of December. The unions announced that they would expand their warning strikes in advance.
Parallel to the day of action in the social and educational services, there were also warning strikes in other administrative areas. In Hamburg, for example, employees in the district offices and the fire department were called for work stoppages. According to Verdi, in Bavaria employees at several universities wanted to go on a warning strike; in Baden-Württemberg, parallel warning strikes by employees of the state monument preservation department were planned.