Verdi Intensifies Pressure Ahead of Upcoming Collective Bargaining in Berlin's Public Sector

Tue 11th Mar, 2025

As the next round of collective bargaining for employees in the public sector approaches, the union Verdi is ramping up its efforts in Berlin. The ongoing negotiations between public service workers and employers at both the federal and municipal levels have yet to yield any results, prompting Verdi to call for renewed mobilization.

In anticipation of the upcoming negotiations scheduled for Friday, workers from various sectors are being urged to participate in warning strikes. From Wednesday through Friday, patients at the publicly owned hospital groups Vivantes and Charité should expect disruptions as non-medical staff are set to down tools.

Additionally, the Berlin waste management service (BSR) will be impacted, with garbage collection services suspended from Wednesday to Friday, and recycling centers closed. Warning strikes in multiple waste processing facilities began yesterday and will continue throughout the week.

Verdi has also announced three days of warning strikes at several other institutions from March 12 to 14, including the Jobcenter, Berlin Water Works, the University of Applied Sciences, the Federal Archives, and the Student Services organization. Employees at the German Pension Insurance will strike on Thursday and Friday, with other federal employees and foundation staff joining the action on Friday.

A demonstration is planned for Thursday, with Verdi calling on workers to gather at Washingtonplatz near the central station before marching to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. On Friday, striking employees are expected to travel to Potsdam to participate in a rally ahead of the third round of negotiations.

The collective bargaining discussions, which began in January, have thus far not produced a resolution. The unions are advocating for an eight percent salary increase for public service employees, or at least an additional EUR350 per month, alongside higher allowances for particularly demanding roles.

Employers have expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of these demands, labeling them financially unsustainable. The third round of negotiations in Potsdam has been scheduled to run until Sunday. In recent weeks, numerous warning strikes have occurred nationwide, including significant disruptions at multiple airports, notably Berlin's main airport, BER.


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