The labor union Verdi is intensifying its efforts for higher wages and improved working conditions for public service employees across Germany. The union demands an 8% wage increase or a minimum of 350 euros more per month, alongside higher allowances for demanding work schedules and three additional vacation days. Despite ongoing negotiations, employers have deemed these demands financially unfeasible.
Recent weeks have seen widespread warning strikes affecting various sectors, including public transportation, airports, and kindergartens. In Munich, the strikes have disrupted operations at the airport and the city's waste management services, AWM, causing significant inconvenience.
The industrial action has not been limited to Munich. Public transport has been severely impacted in cities like Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, and Kassel, where services such as U-Bahn and tram operations were halted. Additionally, the strikes have extended to the education sector, with kindergartens in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern experiencing closures.
Verdi's actions have also targeted airports, leading to thousands of flight cancellations nationwide. Key airports like Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin experienced major disruptions, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
As the next round of negotiations approaches, Verdi remains firm, aiming to pressure employers into meeting their demands. The union's strategy includes leveraging public demonstrations and strikes to draw attention to the plight of workers in the public sector. With Verdi's resolve and the backing of thousands of demonstrators, the union continues to push for a resolution that acknowledges the financial pressures facing its members amidst rising living costs.
