Strike action by public sector workers in Berlin continues this Thursday and Friday
Berlin on the Brink: Public SectorWorkers' Walkout Hits HardThursday and Friday
Catch winter's chilly grip isn't all Berliners have to worry about this week. Their gloves are coming off, too - figuratively, that is. Public sector employees are gearing up for a freellow-up that'll leave key services limping.
Starting Thursday and running through Friday, rubbish collectors from the Berlin city cleaning service (BSR) will put their trash bins on ice, refusing to handle waste, collect bulky items, or operate recycling centers. Public swimming pools may struggle to get their ducks in a row, with potentially delayed opening times or closures.
The blow extends beyond the bath houses to healthcare institutions, including Charité and Vivantes hospitals. Non-urgent procedures could be pushed back, but fear not - emergency care and time-critical operations will remain priority.
The Verdi union stands at the helm of this labor sea sway - the Union wyse insist on a 8% pay hike (minimum €350) and increased funding for trainees and interns.
Other services may join the dance, with school and university cafeterias possibly affected, alongside job centers. However, appointments at Bürgeramt offices - already a scarce commodity - will remain unscathed.
Behind the firm stand
Digging deeper, a Perspective on Public Sector Employees Strike in Berlin, the action focuses on workers' discontent with wage disparities, working conditions, and outsourcing practices.
Workers at Charité Facility Management (CFM), a subsidiary of Charité university hospital, are missing out on roughly €600-700 per month compared to their fellow public sector colleagues, despite the same workload. The Verdi union campaigns for these workers to be brought back under the public sector’s bargaining agreement and a stop to the outsourcing that enables lower wages off-grid.
The strike, initially triggered by these disputes, has caused turbulence in critical services such as healthcare support, transport, and logistics, leading to travel disruptions, canceled flights, and reduced public service availability.
The road ahead
The Berlin Senate and CFM management face criticism for failing to honor coalition contract promises regarding the reintegration of workers into the public sector and attempting to thwart the strike legally. Verdi maintains the strike is indispensable in their fight against government and employer resistance.
In 2025, Berlin isn't just battling winter's icy grip; it's grappling with a wave of labor discord within its public sector, with more hot-button issues bubbling to the surface [1][3][4][2].
The ongoing strike by public sector workers, led by the Verdi union, affects not only the general news but also politics in Berlin. Rubbish collectors and healthcare institutions are majorly impacted, causing disruptions in rubbish collection, public swimming pool services, and potentially delayed procedures in hospitals. Meanwhile, workers at Charité Facility Management are campaigning for equal wages and an end to outsourcing practices, adding more complexity to the ongoing disputes.
