Kita strikes throughout Bavaria: when facilities close - important information for parents

Created: 05/02/2022, 18:51

By: Felix Herz

For this week, Verdi called for a nationwide warning strike in social and educational services.

Several areas have been hit, the daycare centers are on Wednesday.

Munich – At the beginning of March, Verdi called for nationwide warning strikes in the social and educational sectors.

The triggers were faltering collective bargaining for the approximately 330,000 employees in the social and educational sectors.

At the beginning of March, these were still unsuccessful.

The third round of negotiations is now due in mid-May – with the strikes this week, Verdi wants to increase the pressure on municipal employers.

Nationwide warning strike week: Three strike days planned

The nationwide strike week consists of three main areas, which are struck on different days.

Social workers started on Monday, May 2nd, followed by daycare centers and all-day schools on Wednesday.

Finally, on Thursday, it will be the turn of the employees of the handicapped aid.

The next round of negotiations between Verdi and the Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA) will take place on May 16th and 17th.

The VKA criticizes the warning strikes and describes them as "inappropriate".

Meanwhile, Christine Behle, vice chair of the service union, said: "The employees are massively disappointed with the attitude of the employers."

Warning strikes in Bavarian daycare centers: emergency services are set up

Daycare centers throughout Bavaria are affected by the strikes, facilities in Munich, Nuremberg, Fürth, Regensburg, Erlangen, Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Landshut and Forchheim could remain closed throughout Wednesday.

In order to avoid nasty surprises and emergencies, the parents were informed as early as possible and can fall back on emergency facilities in a delicate situation.

In Nuremberg, for example, parents should take care of alternative childcare as early as possible.

The city portal also says: "For family emergencies, emergency service facilities or emergency care offers are available on site or in neighboring facilities."

(By the way: Our Nuremberg newsletter regularly informs you about all the important stories from Middle Franconia and the Franconian metropolis. Register here.)

Warning strikes for the third round of collective bargaining: That's what it's all about

According to Verdi, the situation in the daycare centers has been tense for years.

In the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, the union is demanding better working conditions, measures to counter the prevailing shortage of skilled workers and “financial recognition of the increased challenges” in the occupational field.

Specifically, it is about giving educators time for pre- and post-processing.

VKA President Karin Welge showed a lack of understanding for this on Monday.

According to her, the recent "industrial action does not match the actual status of negotiations".

In the first two rounds of negotiations, the employers made concrete proposals, which were also discussed by the trade union.

The trust of families in social areas is a valuable asset after the pandemic and should not be unnecessarily burdened.

(fh)

All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.