Cancellation of some classes in Berlin due to staff strike

According to the report of the international group Tasnim news agency quoting Classes in some Berlin schools were canceled on Wednesday due to a warning strike by the Education and Science Union (GEW), Focus magazine reported. According to GEW, more than 2,500 teachers, social workers and school psychologists also took part in a demonstration in the center of Berlin. In addition, several decentralized actions took place in different areas of the city.

From 2021, GEW is calling for a collective health protection agreement that would include class sizes and Arranges other support personnel. Among other things, this union wants to form smaller classes in schools. GEW argues that in this way, healthier working conditions for more than 34,000 teachers and other school staff, as well as higher quality teaching, can be achieved.

The Berlin Senate rejects such arguments and points to the collective bargaining community of states (TdL). According to the Berlin Senate, without the consent of the Berlin TdL, it cannot initiate collective bargaining on class sizes. GEW does not accept this argument and since 2021 has repeatedly organized warning strikes to achieve its goal. According to this union, smaller classes can also be implemented by changing the school law. Frozen food manufacturer Frosta in Bremerhaven called for a warning strike on Tuesday morning. The union had requested that in the first shift, employees should stop work from 6 am to 8 am and emphasize their demands.

This union demanded 12 percent more pay for about 700 employees during the 12-month collective agreement, as well as permanent employment of apprentices in the trades they have learned and travel allowances. Employers want a longer collective agreement and, as the union announced on Monday, it is offering 2.6 percent for this year and 1.9 percent for next year.

Recent mass strikes It is held in various parts of Germany in protest of working conditions and wages.

Similar strikes in recent months, including in public transportation The medical staff, the post office and other departments have also been organized in such a way that some experts have called 2024 the year of historic strikes in this country due to the wave of strikes.