The Verdi union has threatened further strikes in the collective bargaining dispute in the public sector.
This should increase the pressure on employers.
Berlin – The current warning strikes in the public sector have focused on day-care centers and social institutions.
Walkouts were announced in many cities in Germany, resulting in restrictions in childcare.
The warning strikes began in the morning at municipal daycare centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, as Verdi Secretary Tjark Sauer confirmed.
According to a union spokesman, many daycare centers in Bavaria did not open.
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Warning strike by Verdi in the public sector in Darmstadt.
© Michael Schick
Verdi collective bargaining dispute: Above all, strikes in daycare centers
On International Women's Day, the predominantly female employees in the social and educational services are called upon to go on warning strikes.
In some places, however, campaigns were also planned in other areas - in Bavaria, for example, in clinics.
There were also warning strikes in Saxony-Anhalt, Bremen and Lower Saxony.
In Saxony, it was primarily kindergarten and after-school workers who were called on to go on strike.
In Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, many daycare centers were also closed on Wednesday.
The Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA) criticized the call for a strike.
The fact that daycare facilities are now being hit again shows that the unions are carrying out collective bargaining policy at the expense of parents and young families, said VKA President Katrin Welge.
Verdi strikes: collective bargaining dispute has been going on for a few weeks
The warning strikes in the collective bargaining conflict have been going on for several weeks.
Among the highlights so far have been walkouts in local public transport in many cities throughout Germany, which Verdi had called for together with the climate activists from Fridays for Future.
Work stoppages by municipal employees had also largely paralyzed Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn airports.
In view of the high inflation, Verdi and the civil servants' association (dbb) are demanding 10.5 percent more wages.
At least there should be 500 euros more for the approximately 2.5 million employees of the municipalities and the federal government.
The unions had rejected an offer from the employers in the most recent second round of negotiations as far too low.
Since then, Verdi boss Frank Werneke has repeatedly pointed out the possibility of the negotiations failing.
Union and employer are far apart, said Werneke on Tuesday in Schwerin.
With a view to the third round of negotiations at the end of March, he said: "In my view, it is completely open whether we will come to a conclusion or whether that is the time when we have to decide whether the negotiations will fail." In that case, Verdi will die Initiate the way of the ballot.
Further strikes would then be the result – as enforcement strikes.
List of rubrics: © Michael Schick