Rising Discontent: Rheinland-Pfalz Nurses Rage Against Mandatory Membership in State Nursing Chamber
A wave of anger and frustration is engulfing nurses in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, directed squarely at the Landespflegekammer, the state’s nursing chamber. The source of their ire? The mandatory membership and annual fees they are obligated to pay, which many perceive as providing no tangible benefits. This discontent, simmering for years, has now reached a boiling point, manifesting in organized protests and the formation of local advocacy groups.
Michael Pauken, the director of a senior center in Kell am See, encapsulates the prevalent sentiment. "All the laws that affect us are made at the federal level. The chamber has demonstrably brought us nothing in ten years," he asserts. This sentiment resonates with a growing number of nurses who feel that the Landespflegekammer, established in 2016 as the legal professional representation for all geriatric nurses, health and nursing professionals in Rheinland-Pfalz, has failed to deliver on its promise of improving working conditions and advocating for their interests.
The dissatisfaction has spilled into the streets. An initial demonstration in Mainz earlier this March saw between 150 and 200 nurses and supporters gathering to protest the chamber’s actions. Further demonstrations are planned for Trier and Koblenz in the coming months, demanding reform of the Pflegekammer and, crucially, an end to the mandatory membership requirement.
Driven by a sense of powerlessness, nurses are taking matters into their own hands, establishing local "Pflegebündnisse" (nursing alliances) in cities like Trier and Koblenz. These grassroots organizations aim to amplify their voices and coordinate their efforts to pressure the state government for change. Pauken, himself a registered nurse, warns that if politicians remain unresponsive after the summer break, protests will escalate to Bad Kreuznach and Kaiserslautern.
The core demands of the disgruntled nurses are clear. They are pushing for a comprehensive survey of all nursing staff to gauge their support for the chamber, which employs around 40 people. Above all, they want the mandatory contributions, unique to Rheinland-Pfalz, to be abolished. They propose that the state government should assume the financial burden of funding the chamber instead.
Established in 2016, the Landespflegekammer was intended to represent the interests of approximately 40,000 geriatric nurses, health and nursing professionals in Rheinland-Pfalz. The annual contributions, which vary depending on salary, average around €140 per year.
Markus Mai, the president of the Landespflegekammer, defends the organization’s work, arguing that it has been both meaningful and effective. He claims that the chamber has contributed to increasing the visibility and importance of the nursing profession, fostering greater societal and political awareness. He also credits the chamber’s efforts with contributing to salary increases.
Mai also highlights the chamber’s role in professional development, citing the introduction of mandatory continuing education for nursing professionals in early July. This new regulation requires a minimum level of professional development, equivalent to two and a half days per year, deemed essential for maintaining the quality of care.
The president dismisses the critics as a "manageable group," suggesting that their "campaign" is fueled by several factors. These include the recent increase in mandatory contributions, the chamber’s intensified efforts to collect payments from nurses who had previously refused to pay or register, and the practice of contacting employers directly. He acknowledges that these actions have angered some nurses, potentially resulting in back payments of several hundred euros. While acknowledging the unpopularity of mandatory contributions, Mai insists on the legal basis for the fees and the need for equitable enforcement.
Rheinland-Pfalz was initially envisioned as the first of many German states to establish a nursing chamber. However, that vision has not materialized. Only North Rhine-Westphalia has followed suit, and even there, the chamber does not impose mandatory membership fees, relying instead on state funding until 2027. Nursing chambers established in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein were subsequently abolished following votes by nurses, and an attempt to establish a chamber in Baden-Württemberg in 2024 failed.
Renewed criticism has arisen following the chamber’s recent request that all employers submit the names of their nursing staff. Bettina Will, an intensive care and anesthesia nurse from Bad Ems, reported this development. However, not all employers are complying with this request. The director of a facility in the Birkenfeld district is resisting the demand, but acknowledges the growing pressure and uncertainty about how long she can maintain her stance. Pauken adds that many nurses are now living in fear of the chamber’s actions.
Alexandra Schug, the director of a senior center in Baumholder, argues that the "mandatory membership" is detrimental to Rheinland-Pfalz. She reports that some nurses are opting to work across the border in Saarland to avoid the mandatory membership. This is especially concerning, she says, given the nationwide shortage of skilled nursing professionals. She believes a shift towards voluntary membership is necessary.
Jörg Sponholz, an anesthesia nurse from Saarburg and a member of the Verdi trade union, also expresses dissatisfaction with the chamber’s work. He claims that the chamber provides little more than a glossy brochure twice a year.
Jasmin Gollub, a geriatric nurse working for the Rheinland-Pfalz state association of the German Red Cross, echoes the sentiment that the chamber is unresponsive. She reports unanswered emails and a general lack of accountability. "The chamber does nothing for me. So, I’m paying for nothing," she says.
Pauken counters the chamber’s assertion that critics are a small minority, asserting that "We are not a fringe phenomenon. We are thousands by now."
Chamber President Mai, however, warns that undermining the chamber would ultimately harm the nursing profession and the societal provision of care. He points to countries without nursing chambers, where the nursing profession lacks influence and adequate support. He suggests that without a strong, unified voice, nursing will suffer.
