Through warning strikes across Germany, employees of German public services intensified pressure on employers in wage increase negotiations on Tuesday, with over 15,000 protesters gathering at a central rally in Hanover, demanding that representatives of the federal states make concessions in negotiations.
"We can no longer allow the blockade policy being implemented by employers," said Frank Bsirske, president of the Verdi union for public service employees, to the crowd in Hanover. He accused the state, which in this case is also the employer through federal states, cities, and municipalities, of asking citizens for increased domestic consumption to overcome the economic crisis while simultaneously refusing to raise salaries for its employees.
"Economy Minister Glos constantly repeats that spending needs to increase, so it is only fair that they ensure public service employees have more left in their wallets at the end of the month," said Bsirske. In addition to Hanover, the Verdi union, the Police Union (GdP), and the Teachers’ Union (GEW) called on their members to stop work in other federal states as well. Thus, police officers, public transport workers, and staff in education and healthcare went on strike in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to union claims, the strike did not significantly impact public life, but there were delays in urban transport in some parts of Bavaria.
Around 700,000 public service employees are demanding an average wage increase of eight percent, which employers, municipalities, cities, and federal states are rejecting, citing insufficient budgets. Negotiations between employers and unions are expected to continue on February 14 and 15. (H)
