Verdi Urges Action at Halle University Hospital in Wage Negotiations
In the ongoing public sector wage debates among the federal states, Verdi has advocated for a warning strike at Halle University Hospital. As per a Verdi declaration on Thursday, both the early and late shifts will participate in the strike. This action affects all trainees and workers under the respective hospital's in-house collective agreements. A protest is also planned in Halle on Thursday early morning, as Verdi announced.
Nationwide calls for warning strikes have been echoed by Verdi in the healthcare sector. The union seeks a 10.5% income escalation, ideally amounting to a minimum of 500 euros, for public sector workers in the federal states. Additionally, they demand a minimum contract term of twelve months and permanent employment positions for trainees with an added 200 euros in their payment. Negotiations are set to continue on December 7 and 8 in Potsdam.
The proposed Verdi wage tariffs could impact Halle University Hospital's operational expenses, potentially affecting its efficient delivery of healthcare services within the public sector. The union's objectives to enhance workers' welfare and job security resonate with the importance of ensuring the well-being of healthcare personnel in Germany's public healthcare sector.
Impact of the Strike
- Disruption of non-urgent medical procedures and surgeries due to the involvement of non-medical workers such as nursing and therapeutic staff.
- The striking of subsidiary companies in hospitals, affecting their functioning and leading to broader public service disruptions.
- Eventual impacts on other public services, including kindergartens, street cleaning services, and waste management, as the strike is a part of a broader national dispute.
Negotiated Demands
- 8% salary increase or at least €350 more per month for public service workers to reach expected salaries and compensate for the widening wage gap.
- Enhanced allowances for challenging roles, that are often overburdened and undervalued, while better recognizing and supporting the roles played by public-facing workers.
- The need for governmental recognition and improvement of working conditions in the public sector to remedy the workforce crisis and acknowledging the efforts put forth especially during crisis times.
Upcoming Steps
- February 17 and 18 –Round of negotiations discussing public service salaries, with stakeholders closely following the discussions due to their implications for a wide range of positions across various sectors.
- A planned protest by Verdi on Thursday, marching from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the Association of Local Employers (VKA) headquarters at Spittelmarkt, highlighting the need for labor reforms within the public sector.
The strike at Charité and Vivantes hospitals underscores the significant challenges accumulating in Germany's public sector labor policies and the urgent necessity to address and improve labor conditions to counteract the workforce crisis.
