Berlin, January 14 – A two-day warning strike called by public sector unions GEW and Verdi is expected to significantly impact various services across Berlin on Wednesday and Thursday. The industrial action, which commenced yesterday, January 13, aims to exert pressure in the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations for public sector employees in the federal states.
Disruptions Expected in Daycares and Schools
According to the GEW union, classes and after-school care at schools may face cancellations on Wednesday. However, widespread school closures are deemed unlikely, primarily because many teachers hold civil servant status, which prohibits them from striking.
Municipal daycare centers are more heavily affected, with closures anticipated for both days of the strike. The City daycare center operator reported that one of its 58 facilities was completely closed on the first day of the strike, with two expected closures on the second day. Additionally, restrictions are foreseen at 14 facilities on Wednesday and 13 on Thursday. Claudia Freistühler, managing director, stated, “However, we are trying to meet all parents’ needs.” During a previous warning strike on December 18, some parents collaborated to arrange childcare.
Impact on Government Offices and Universities
The Verdi union has called upon employees at universities, the State Immigration Office, and the State Office for Citizens and Regulatory Affairs to join the strike on Wednesday. This includes members of the police and fire departments who are not civil servants. Emergency service agreements are in place to ensure that critical operations, particularly in emergencies, remain unaffected.
On Thursday, the strike is expected to extend to employees from Senate administrations, district offices, and forestry operations, alongside daycare workers. This could lead to restrictions in services at locations such as citizen service centers. The extent of these disruptions will depend on the number of participants in the strike.
Demonstration and Negotiations Underway
A demonstration is planned for Wednesday, commencing from Friedrichstraße station and proceeding to the Rotes Rathaus. This public display of solidarity underscores the unions’ determination to achieve their demands.
In addition to Verdi and GEW, the police union (GdP) and IG Bau have also issued calls for protest days. Their collective objective is to influence the collective bargaining round for the public sector in the federal states, which began in early December. The second round of negotiations between the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) and the unions is scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday in Potsdam.
The current warning strike highlights the ongoing tensions between public sector employees and employers regarding wage increases and working conditions. As negotiations continue, further updates on the strike’s impact and the progress of talks are anticipated.
