Public Transport and Public Sector Workers Stage Warning Strikes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Headline: Strikes Disrupt Public Transport and Essential Services in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Introduction:
Warning strikes by public sector and public transport employees have led to significant disruptions in several regions of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Rostock and Greifswald, workers have downed tools for the third time this week, resulting in a complete shutdown of public transport services.
Public Transport Strikes:
The second round of collective bargaining negotiations for public transport employees ended without a result on Tuesday and has been adjourned until February 25th. The warning strike, which began on Wednesday night, will continue until Friday night.
The Gewerkschaft Verdi (United Services Union) has called for the strike, demanding 430 euros more per month and an annual bonus of 500 euros for public transport workers.
Public Sector Strikes:
Alongside the public transport strikes, Verdi has also organized a one-day warning strike for public sector employees in Rostock, the surrounding district, and the district of Vorpommern-Rügen. The strike, which began Thursday morning, has impacted numerous essential services.
The union has demanded an 8% wage increase or a minimum increase of 350 euros per month for public sector employees.
Rostock: A Focal Point of the Strike Action:
Rostock is the main focal point of the industrial action, with city utilities, the Südstadt Clinic, municipal and district administrations, as well as federal agencies and institutions being affected by the strikes. Some daycare centers have also been forced to close due to the strikes.
Employer Response:
The Kommunale Arbeitgeberverband (KAV), the association representing municipal employers in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, has denounced the warning strikes as "completely excessive and disproportionate." According to Carola Freier, the association’s managing director, the negotiations in the public sector have not yet even reached a stage where content-based discussions could take place. She further argues that the demands are unreasonable given "empty municipal coffers and a stagnating economy."
Protests and Demonstrations:
In Rostock, striking workers gathered at the Gewerkschaftshaus on Thursday morning before marching to the central event at the Neuer Markt. Verdi anticipates several hundred participants at the protest.
Expected Impacts:
The warning strikes are expected to cause significant disruptions to public transportation, essential services, and daily life in the affected regions.
Background:
The warning strikes are part of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between unions and employer associations in Germany. The negotiations cover a wide range of public sector employees, including those working in healthcare, education, and public administration.
The demands for higher wages and improved working conditions reflect the rising cost of living and the challenges faced by public sector workers in delivering essential services amidst ongoing economic uncertainties.
