In numerous daycare centers in Schongau there was only emergency care yesterday.
The reason: the educators took part in a warning strike by the Verdi union.
It's about much more than just a few euros more on the account.
District
– One would think that the parents would be incredibly frustrated and stressed when, after two years of pandemic stress, the daycare doors were closed again.
But far from it: The parents' council of the "Kunterbunt" daycare center in Schongau made a chic poster for the educators so that they can properly demonstrate, says its director Andrea Knopp.
You can hardly understand her on the phone, because there is really a murderous noise in the background.
“Many more educators came than had signed up.
And far more than we would have expected," says the district manager of the Verdi union, Werner Röll, in an interview with the local newspaper.
Certainly, in the Kempten, Ostallgäu and Schongau area, there has already been intensive publicity for the warning strike among the members.
But that so many come is surprising.
The marketplace in Marktoberdorf was full.
He was also very pleased with the level of understanding and encouragement.
“Today we took over the Sailerbräu in Marktoberdorf.
The landlady comes from Schongau.
And today she couldn't drop off her child at daycare as usual before she goes to work.
I was a bit concerned that she would be angry," he says.
But things turned out very differently: "It's not your fault that you have to go on strike today.
You're right," the landlady told him.
On average, three full-time positions are missing in each day-care center
And it really is a lot.
Not necessarily and primarily about wage increases, Röll continues.
The social and educational service is integrated into the collective agreement of the public service and the collective agreement will run until the end of the year.
It is much more important to counteract the shortage of skilled workers with effective measures, said the Verdi representative.
A survey of 20,000 educators had a depressing result: the colleagues were completely overwhelmed, on average three full-time positions would be missing in each daycare center.
Requirements much higher than before
"People simply need more time," explained Werner Röll.
The day care centers are much more than the mere child care facilities that they may have been in the past: "The demands on early childhood education are enormous," says the trade unionist.
But early childhood education is time-consuming, which is why more staff is needed.
But there have been no crowds of applicants for a long time.
But on the contrary.
"And that's why we have to make the job more attractive again," says Röll.
This includes a higher grouping of employees (which of course would mean more money in the account at the end of the month), proper staffing and greater appreciation for the employees.
Yesterday, the day-care center employees and employees in the disabled aid department showed that they are serious.
Collective bargaining in Potsdam in mid-May will show whether it works.
Then it will also be decided whether the parents from the "Kunterbunt" daycare center have to make another strike poster for the educators.
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