Warnings Strike Paralyzes Public Services in Baden-Württemberg
Over 7,000 employees, including teachers, waste collectors, and healthcare professionals, participate in warning strikes in major cities, disrupting public life and putting pressure on negotiations.
#Strikes Impact Multiple Sectors
The warning strikes, organized by the German public sector trade union Verdi, have significantly impacted public services in Baden-Württemberg, a southwestern German state. In Freiburg and Konstanz, public transportation has been affected, leaving commuters stranded. Additionally, there have been disruptions in childcare facilities, city administrations, utility companies, hospitals, waste management, job centers, employment agencies, district offices, and savings banks. Protests have also taken place in Mannheim, Reutlingen, Wertheim, Ulm, and Aalen.
Verdi Demands Higher Wages
Verdi’s state chairman, Martin Gross, addressed a rally in Stuttgart, emphasizing that stagnant incomes in the public sector would hinder the weakened economy. He stated, "The biggest obstacle to growth is a crippled and underfunded public service, along with hundreds of thousands of employees who can no longer afford to make even minor purchases."
The strikes have drawn criticism from the Baden-Württemberg Municipal Employers’ Association (KAV), which represents over 900 municipal employers with more than 385,000 employees. However, Verdi remains resolute in its demands for improved wages and working conditions.
#Tightened Security in Stuttgart
In light of the recent incident in Munich, where a vehicle rammed into a crowd during a Verdi demonstration, the police in Stuttgart have heightened security measures for a Verdi demonstration scheduled to take place in the central Schlossplatz. Po bollards have been raised, and access roads have been blocked by police vehicles. The demonstration is permitted to proceed as planned, but security has been increased as a precaution.
#National Negotiations in Potsdam
Meanwhile, in Potsdam, Verdi and the Beamtenbund (civil servants’ union) are engaged in negotiations with the Association of Municipal Employers’ Associations and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, representing the employer side. The Ministry estimates that 2.6 million municipal employees and 132,000 federal employees are affected by the negotiations.
Verdi and the Beamtenbund are demanding an 8% wage increase, with a minimum increase of €350 per month for employees and €200 per month for trainees. The employers’ associations have proposed a lower increase, but the unions remain committed to their demands for better pay and improved working conditions.
#Ongoing Negotiations
The warning strikes in Baden-Württemberg and the negotiations in Potsdam highlight the ongoing tension between public sector unions and employers over wages and working conditions. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the well-being of public sector employees and the quality of public services in Germany. The parties involved are urged to find a mutually acceptable solution that balances the needs of employees with the financial constraints faced by employers.
