A call for massive strikes in Germany
Germany’s Verdi union announced mass strikes in the public service sector due to the failure of negotiations with employers to raise wages. |
According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency quoting “De Sight” publication, the German trade union wants to hold strikes in many public institutions in the coming weeks. That’s because the employers have yet to present a proposal for collective bargaining.
Frank Wernecke, head of the Verdi union, has warned of expanding strike action in the collective bargaining dispute. It has been announced in the public service of the federal states. Werneke told the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the union is planning extensive action, especially in the two weeks before the next talks on December 7 and 8.
Werneke said that Similar to the strikes in Berlin, kindergartens will also strike. According to him, strikes in the university and other government hospitals can lead to the postponement of non-acute operations. However, emergency operations are guaranteed. He emphasized that the warning strikes of teachers lead to the cancellation of classes, especially in the East German states and Berlin. Therefore, more strike calls are applied, among others, to employees of road maintenance departments and citizens’ offices. They have not made any move in the current round of collective negotiations. He also told this newspaper: This is the problem of the employers who have not yet made an offer. If the federal states do not make any concessions in the third round of negotiations, Verdi is ready to increase the pressure.
Collective bargaining talks for employees in the German federal states Except for Hessen, which started in October, there has been no result so far. The first two rounds of negotiations did not make any progress. The third round is scheduled for December 7 and 8. Unions want 10.5 percent more wages, at least 500 euros a month, as well as compensation for inflation. In response to these requests, employers pointed to the tight budget situation and have not yet made an offer.
publisher | Tasnim News Agency |