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Strikers in Lierenfeld: the Rheinbahn in Düsseldorf has stopped operating
Photo: Federico Gambarini / picture alliance / dpa
The first major warning strikes have begun in the ongoing collective bargaining conflict in the federal and local public services.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, employees of transport companies, city administrations, clinics, swimming pools, daycare centers and other facilities in numerous cities stopped work after calls by the Ver.di trade union.
Warning strikes also started in Berlin.
»Very, very charged atmosphere«
Among other things, local transport in Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Wuppertal was on strike.
In Düsseldorf, the depots of the Rheinbahn are "all tight," said Ver.di district manager Stephanie Peifer of the AFP news agency.
The warning strikes had also begun in the area of city cleaning, the city administration and in clinics.
For the first day of the warning strike, there was "a very, very charged mood" among the workers, she added.
The first round of collective bargaining talks for 2.4 million federal and local employees was adjourned in January without result.
The second round will take place on February 22nd and 23rd in Potsdam.
Because of the high inflation, Ver.di and the German Association of Civil Servants are demanding a wage increase of 10.5 percent for a period of twelve months, but at least 500 euros more per month.
Representatives of the federal government and local authorities rejected the request with reference to the budgetary situation.
They have not yet submitted an offer to negotiate.
Warning strikes and protests in authorities, offices and various other institutions such as theaters were therefore also planned in many other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia.
According to Ver.di, larger protest rallies were scheduled for the course of the day in Cologne, Aachen, Dortmund and Düsseldorf.
Some of the warning strikes in North Rhine-Westphalia should continue on Friday.
Transport companies in Düsseldorf and Dortmund had previously announced that they would stop operating completely or almost completely.
Accordingly, no subways and trams should operate in Düsseldorf, and according to the information, neither trams nor buses should operate in Dortmund.
In Berlin, among others, employees of the city cleaning and water works and the clinics Charité and Vivantes were called to strike on Thursday.
Universities should also be affected.
At the same time, a demonstration was planned from the Berlin House of Representatives to Oranienplatz, where Ver.di federal boss Frank Werneke was to speak.
According to the union, around 3,000 participants were expected.
mic/AFP
