Public Sector Workers in Rostock Stage Protest and Warning Strike
# Headline: Hundreds of Public Sector Workers Join Protest and Warning Strike in Rostock
# Introduction:
Today, hundreds of public sector employees in Rostock participated in a one-day warning strike and protest march to amplify pressure on public employers in two ongoing wage negotiations. The chairman of the trade union federation DGB Nord, Laura Pooth, emphasized the indispensable nature of public services in Germany and warned that austerity measures in this sector would disproportionately impact the disadvantaged.
# Protest Details:
Verdi district manager Mathias Bialuch accused public employers of being out of touch with reality, stating that real wages would continue to decline in 2024, albeit at a slower pace. Approximately 800 participants braved freezing temperatures and marched through the city center, carrying flags, balloons, and musical instruments. Snow began falling during the rally held at the Neuer Markt.
# Parallel Wage Negotiations:
Two concurrent wage agreements are being negotiated: one for public sector employees and another for the approximately 2,800 public transport workers. In the transport sector, employees in Rostock and Greifswald stopped working for the third time this week. "No more transportation services are available," stated a Verdi spokesperson. The second round of negotiations for public transport had been adjourned on Tuesday without reaching a resolution and is scheduled to resume on February 25.
In the public sector negotiations, Verdi called for a one-day warning strike for employees in Rostock, the surrounding district, and the Vorpommern-Rügen district. The Education and Science Union (GEW) also joined the protests.
# Wage Demands:
Union representatives in the public sector negotiations demand an 8% wage increase or a minimum monthly raise of 350 euros. For public transport employees, Verdi seeks a monthly increase of 430 euros and an annual bonus of 500 euros.
# Employer Response:
The Municipal Employers’ Association (KAV) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern condemned the warning strikes as excessive and disproportionate. The association’s managing director, Carola Freier, claimed that the public sector negotiations had not yet addressed substantive issues. She deemed the demands unreasonable, considering the depleted municipal funds and stagnant economy.
# Political Criticism:
Sandy van Baal, an FDP member of the state parliament and economic policy spokesperson, criticized the unions’ tactics. "A fair wage agreement is not coerced on the streets but negotiated at the bargaining table. Given that talks are still ongoing, this strike is not only inconsiderate but also unnecessary," she stated. Van Baal argued that the unions were seeking to impose an exorbitant demand rather than seeking compromise, at the expense of those already facing economic difficulties.
# Conclusion:
The public sector protest and warning strike in Rostock demonstrate the heightened tensions between unions and employers in the ongoing wage negotiations. The unions maintain that public services are essential and should be adequately compensated, while employers contend that fiscal constraints limit their ability to meet the demands. As the negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached or if further industrial action will follow.
