Warning Strike in Brandenburg Disrupts Public Services on Monday
Summary:
On Monday, a day-long warning strike in Brandenburg will lead to disruptions in various public services, including childcare, waste collection, and winter road maintenance. The strike is part of the nationwide collective bargaining round for public sector employees in Germany.
Background:
The negotiations for higher salaries are set to continue in Potsdam during the week. Approximately 1,000 participants are expected at a protest rally organized by the trade union Verdi at the Congress Hotel in Potsdam, the site of the negotiations.
Affected Services:
The warning strike will affect municipal administrations, the Ernst von Bergmann city hospital in Potsdam, the Water and Shipping Administration, and savings banks across the state of Brandenburg.
Healthcare:
A spokesperson for the Ernst von Bergmann Hospital in Potsdam stated that no major disruptions in patient care are anticipated. Surgeries will not be postponed, and the emergency room will remain operational. Nurses at the hospital are called to participate in the strike, while doctors are not.
Childcare and Waste Collection:
Restrictions in childcare services at municipal kindergartens in Brandenburg are expected, although it remains unclear whether any facilities will close entirely. Additionally, waste collection services will be disrupted in some areas on Monday.
Winter Maintenance and Public Services:
The Potsdam city government has announced that it will attempt to maintain citizen services as much as possible during the strike, but it cannot guarantee uninterrupted operations. Citizens are advised to check the city’s website and social media platforms for any updates on disruptions on Monday.
Union Demands:
Verdi and the Civil Servants’ Federation are demanding an eight percent salary increase, or a minimum of €350 per month, for public sector employees. They are also seeking a €200 per month raise for trainees.
Employer Response:
Andrea Kühnemann, the Verdi state district manager, criticized the employers for stalling tactics and urged them to put forward an offer that compensates for real wage losses in recent years and improves working conditions.
The Association of Municipal Employers’ Associations criticized the salary demands, claiming that they would overburden municipalities. No offer has yet been made by the employer side.
National Impact:
Warning strikes in Berlin, Hamburg, and several regions in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have already caused disruptions in public services in recent days.
Overshadowed by Munich Attack:
The collective bargaining negotiations were overshadowed by the suspected attack in Munich last week, where a 24-year-old Afghan migrant drove a car into a Verdi demonstration.
