In the northerly region of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 1500 employees heeded the call to participate in a warning strike by the Education and Science Union on a chilly Tuesday. They congregated in Magdeburg Cathedral Square, as reported by a GEW spokesperson in the afternoon hours. The union had urged teachers and educators hailing from the autonomous city of Magdeburg, along with the Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Stendal, Börde, Jerichower Land, Salzlandkreis, and Harz districts, to join forces for the all-day event.
"Regrettably, an acceptable proposition from the employer for a substantial salary increase remains elusive," elaborated GEW state director Eva Gerth. "From the GEW's perspective, this serves as a reflection of the employees' diminished worth. This same sentiment has fueled the escalating inclination to strike and keeps it steadfast."
The GEW extended the invitation to teachers and staff from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, whose positions fall under the auspices of the collective agreement of the German federal states, as well as students, to join the warning strike on the following day.
The unions are endeavoring to secure a 10.5% salary increase for employees, with at least an additional €500 per month, in addition to a collective agreement for all student employees. This agreement would persist for one year. The subsequent collective bargaining session in the public sector of the German federal states is scheduled to transpire on December 7 and 8 in Potsdam.
Additional Insights
Some teachers in Stendal opted against participating in the warning strike, citing their commitment to their students' educational journey.
The education and science union in Saxony-Anhalt, GEW, has been spearheading opposition to excessive tariffs in the education sector, advocating for improved compensation for teachers and educators.
Teachers and educators across Magdeburg, as well as districts such as Salzwedel and Börde, will unite with the GEW in a warning strike on Wednesday, demanding substantial salary augmentations and a collective agreement for student employees.
The ensuing collective bargaining session in the public sector of the federal states, scheduled for December 7 and 8 in Potsdam, could potentially shape the ongoing conflict between trade unions, led by GEW, and the education sector.
The aftermath of this warning strike could present far-reaching consequences for education in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially impacting schools in towns like Tarifs and Salzwedel, and influencing the academic progress of students.
