Union Verdi Urges Public Sector Workers in Hamburg to Strike Over Wages
Following an unsuccessful round of bargaining for the federal states' public sector, union Verdi has announced the first warning strikes in Hamburg. The city's sports field attendants will participate in a weekend-long walkout on both Saturday and Sunday. This action is expected to cause numerous disturbances and cancellations of scheduled events, including the HSV regional league match on Sunday at the Sportpark Eimsbüttel.
Ole Borgard, Hamburg's Verdi vice-president, expressed frustration with the employers' disregard for the situation. Even after the second negotiating session on Friday, the finance senator and chief negotiator, Andreas Dressel, reportedly suggested that public sector employees apply for housing assistance if their income couldn't cover rent costs. Borgard emphasized the employees' determination to confront their concerns, proclaiming, "The whistle has been blown."
The unions seek a 10.5% income increase, along with an additional €500 for all employees and €200 for junior staff. For Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, they petition for a €300 city-state bonus each month. These demands build on the wage agreement for the federal government and local authorities reached in April 2023. However, the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) concluded that the demands were unrealistic and unaffordable. The parties have scheduled a third round of negotiations for December 7.
German trade unions, led by Verdi, are escalating their calls for higher pay in the public sector, mainly due to the employer's reluctance to fulfill their wage-related requests.
- Insights from Enrichment Data:
- Verdi is striving for an 8% increase in salary (approximately €350 per month) and three additional days of holiday leave for public sector workers. This demand applies to all German states and transport associations. In Berlin's specific case, Verdi aims for a €750 monthly wage increase for BVG employees.
- Negotiations have been unproductive thus far, which has spurred nationwide warning strikes. The first round of negotiations on January 24, 2025, failed to produce an agreement, prompting Verdi to initiate nationwide strikes.
- The strikes are impacting various public services, including healthcare, waste management, and education. Additionally, disruptions in public transportation – such as a 24-hour strike in Berlin – are being reported. Potentially, sports events may also be affected if necessary logistics and operations are impacted by these service disruptions.
- If no settlement is reached in the near future, industrial action may escalate further to countrywide strikes, significantly impacting public services and daily life in Germany, particularly prior to the upcoming federal election in 2025.
