Charité Faces Potential Unrestricted Strike as Cleaning and Transport Staff Prepare to Walk Out

Staff members involved in cleaning, transport, and security services at Berlin's Charité hospital are gearing up for an indefinite strike beginning Wednesday. This action follows unsuccessful negotiations between the Charité's subsidiary, CFM, and the Verdi union over a new collective bargaining agreement.

The CFM, employing around 3,500 individuals, is crucial to Charité's operations. The potential strike, which could see a vast number of Verdi-affiliated workers cease operations, threatens essential hospital functions, including the sterilization of surgical instruments and the transportation of patients, blood products, and medications. Consequently, this disruption may lead to the postponement of critical medical treatments.

With a striking majority of 99.3% favoring the strike in a recent ballot, Verdi has expressed its readiness to act. The final negotiations between the CFM leadership and the union ended without resolution, and the strike action now awaits approval from Verdi's national board.

Unlike their counterparts at the main Charité facility, most CFM employees do not receive salaries in line with the public sector pay scale (TVÖD). Instead, they earn significantly less, with monthly salaries falling hundreds of euros short of what is standard under the TVÖD framework.

Recent political commitments have raised expectations among CFM staff. Following the 2023 elections, the coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD pledged to establish a uniform pay scale across state-owned healthcare facilities and expedite the integration of subsidiary services into the main hospital operations.

The Berlin Senate, represented by Mayor Kai Wegner, has indicated a willingness to review current wage policies. This comes amid ongoing discussions that involve CFM employees, highlighting the administration's intent to address the disparities in compensation.

However, the financial implications of meeting Verdi's demands could be significant. If the CFM were to comply with the union's request for full TVÖD wages, it would require an annual investment of approximately EUR42.5 million. This could lead to increased service fees, potentially making it economically unfeasible for Charité to utilize its own subsidiary for these services.

Charité has repeatedly faced financial deficits, prompting a stringent cost-cutting strategy. The institution operates 3,300 hospital beds across Berlin and is bound by state regulations that emphasize economic viability for public entities.

Amid these financial constraints, some financial experts and legal advisors suggest that Charité may be compelled to outsource cleaning, transport, and security services to lower-cost providers, should the CFM's operational costs escalate.

While the Senate may consider additional funding to support Charité beyond current state subsidies, this is not without complications. The regional government's financial support could be challenged under competition laws, especially as other healthcare providers contest perceived inequities in state funding.

The unfolding situation at Charité is further complicated by a national wage dispute, where unions are demanding an 8% increase in salaries or a minimum of EUR350 additional monthly pay for the 2.5 million public sector employees. A failure in the ongoing negotiations could result in strikes that extend to TVÖD employees at Charité, which would include nurses and other healthcare workers.

In 2023, Charité managed over 137,000 inpatient and outpatient cases, underscoring its vital role in Berlin's healthcare system. The institution employs a total of approximately 23,500 individuals across its four locations, making it a key player in the region's medical landscape.