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administration — Berlin — education and science union — Federal states — German Federal States — Germany — Gew — Kindergartens — Loss of lessons — Public service — Schools — Tariffs — Teacher — Warning Strike

13,000 employees take part in warning strike

13,000 employees take part in warning strike

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
13,000 employees take part in warning strike
13,000 employees take part in warning strike

Headline: Education Sector and Public Servants stage Massive Strikes Across Europe

In the heart of Berlin, the chilly air brought an unusual silence on a Wednesday - schools closed their doors and classes were postponed. This time, over 13,000 educators and public service workers answered the call of several labor unions, including GEW, Verdi, and GdP police union. The union members participated in a warning strike, as announced this Wednesday morning by GEW, due to disputes concerning the collective agreement for the public service sector, currently under nationwide renegotiation.

This work action affected a wide range of roles, including educators, teachers, university staff, and social workers within different services, such as youth, health, and social services. Later in the day, strikers gathered at Ernst-Reuter-Platz before marching towards Kurfürstendamm, where labor and social ministers were holding a concurrent meeting.

Negotiations are scheduled to resume in Potsdam this week (Thursday and Friday) for the third round. The unions are pushing for a 10.5% wage increase over twelve months, along with minimum monthly raises of €500 for employees and €200 for trainees. Moreover, they advocate for city-state bonuses of €300 in Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen.

As negotiations continue, many Kindergartens and schools across various federal states have adjusted their schedules because of potential work disruptions. Ernter-Reuter-Platz served as a central gathering point for strikers during this warning strike, with parties now aiming to achieve wage increases, city-state bonuses, and better conditions for public service employees while reaching an agreement that prevents further disruptions in the education and science sectors.

Insights:

Recent collective bargaining negotiations and strike actions have affected educators and public servants in various parts of Europe, particularly in nations like Germany, Belgium, and the Basque Region of Spain.

Collective Bargaining and Strike Actions in Europe:

  1. Belgium's French-speaking Teachers: The strike involving 30,000 teachers from French-speaking schools in Belgium was a response to job losses, pay cuts, poor working conditions, and pension reforms. They protested against these measures for 48 hours, citing their concerns against cost-cutting measures and threats to education quality.
  2. Basque Region, Spain's Teachers: In the Basque region, 27,000 teachers participated in a strike that targeted better remuneration, increased financial support, more working hours, and job security guarantees.

Comparably, the current negotiations and strikes in Germany involve the improvement of wages, working conditions, and education reforms for educators and public servants. Although the immediate impact on Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen’s education sector is limited, ongoing contract disputes and strikes in other regions could have a potential impact on educational services if they involve teachers or other educational staff.

Source:

                    **Enrichment Data:**
                    Europe is currently witnessing collective bargaining negotiations and strike actions affecting educators and public servants, specifically in Belgium, the Basque Region of Spain, and Germany. The following are some key points:

Belgium

  • Strike Action: Teachers in Wallonia and Brussels staged a 48-hour strike on January 27-28, 2025, in opposition to government reforms that they believed would harm the quality of education and their working conditions. The strikes led to various alterations within schools' operations.[1][4]
  • Government Reforms: The proposed reforms, including budget cuts and changes to vocational education, alarmed the unions due to the potential job losses and concerns over degrading education quality. The unions also opposes the abolition of teacher tenure and the introduction of precarious contracts.[1][4]

Basque Region, Spain

  • Strike Action: On January 22, 2025, 27,000 teachers during the Basque region went on strike to demand enhancements to pay, reduction of workloads, and job security guarantees. More protests are planned for February, aiming to place pressure on the Basque Autonomous Community government to address their concerns.[2]

Germany

  • No Specific Strikes Mentioned: There are no current reports of strikes or collective bargaining negotiations involving German educators or public servants within the provided sources. However, Germany has been recognized in relation to broader labor market discrimination issues impacting LGBTI individuals, where systemic barriers still exist, despite advancements in enforcing workplace protections and championing inclusive policies.[3]

These actions underline the ongoing struggles of educators and public servants in various European regions, highlighting the need for better working conditions, job security, and quality education.

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