Get Ready for Another Major Warning Strike by Verdi in Public Sector Institutions
It's time to brace yourselves again as the Verdi trade union prepares to escalate the pay dispute in the public sector of the federal states with another round of warning strikes, starting Monday. Thousands of employees from institutions like universities, district offices, schools, the fire department, city counsel, audit offices, and job centers in Hamburg will be participating in this demonstration.
With the third round of negotiations just three days away, Verdi is leaving no stone unturned to put pressure on the wage dispute. Key representatives such as Frank Werneke (Verdi national chairman), are all set to address the participants during their demonstration starting at the Gewerkschaftshaus (10:30 a.m.), and continuing to the finance authority (11:45 a.m.) before concluding at Valentinskamp (12:00 p.m.). The negotiations scheduled for Thursday in Potsdam will be attended by around 1.1 million employees nationwide.
Verdi's Demands
Verdi is vocal about their demands for a hefty pay increase of 10.5% for public sector employees in federal states, accompanied by a minimum increase of 500 euros per month. This financial boost is also envisioned for the junior staff, who should earn an additional 200 euros, while trainees and dual students are set to be offered permanent contracts. Employees in Hamburg, Berlin, and Bremen will receive a city-state bonus of 300 euros per month if their demands are met.
However, the Tarifgemeinschaft der Länder (TdL), led by Hamburg's Finance Senator Andréas Dressel (SPD), doesn't seem convinced by these demands and has expressed their belief that they are financially unfeasible.
Possible Disruptions
While the effect of these warnings strikes on the general public is yet to be seen, the Employment office in Hamburg has already issued a notice, urging employees to prepare for potential disruptions during the round of negotiations between Verdi and the TdL. The fire department in Hamburg has also announced their intent to participate in this warning strike, expressing their frustrations about the ongoing wage dispute in the public sector.
Deeper Dive
As the cost of living continues to soar in Germany, the Verdi union's strike actions are a strong statement in the face of economic instability. Witnessing a series of layoffs in various tech companies like Bird, Cruise, and Amazon, residents have been grappling with challenging market conditions and rising living costs. Despite these challenges, Verdi remains committed to pushing for better working conditions and higher wages for public sector employees.
Recent Strikes
- BVG Strike: A second warning strike took place on February 13, 2025, organized by Verdi at Berlin’s urban transit operator BVG. This strike impacted bus, tram, and subway services, except for the S-Bahn.
