Potential Strikes Loom as 2,500 Service Workers at Berlin Hospital Chain Demand Pay Parity

Negotiations between the Berlin-based hospital network Vivantes and the service workers' union Verdi have commenced under heightened tension, as approximately 2,500 employees from several Vivantes subsidiaries threaten industrial action. The core dispute centers on the demand to align the wages of service staff--including cleaners, therapists, and catering personnel--with those stipulated by the public sector wage agreement, known as TVöD.

Currently, employees in Vivantes subsidiaries such as Viva-Clean, Vivantes Service Gesellschaft, Vivantes Reha, and others, receive salaries that are reported to be 76 to 91 percent of the TVöD standard, depending on the specific company. The TVöD agreement is widely recognized as the benchmark for public sector remuneration in Germany and already applies to Vivantes' main workforce. However, hundreds of service workers in the group's subsidiaries have yet to benefit from equivalent terms, prompting calls for an end to what the union describes as a "two-tier workforce."

In a significant move at the start of negotiations, Vivantes has proposed a gradual alignment of subsidiary employees' salaries with the TVöD scale by 2030--a step intended to address the union's chief demand. The hospital group has also indicated a willingness to conduct talks at an accelerated pace, suggesting meetings every two days. In exchange, Vivantes has requested that Verdi refrain from initiating strikes to ensure discussions remain constructive and focused.

Despite Vivantes' offer, union representatives have expressed reservations, indicating that the proposal does not fully address all key demands. Beyond wage alignment, Verdi is also seeking a one-time payment of 2,000 euros for all affected employees and three additional vacation days for union members. The union has highlighted the long-standing issue of pay disparity and is pressing for a more comprehensive resolution.

The backdrop to these negotiations is Vivantes' challenging financial position, with the organization facing a deficit approaching 150 million euros. Management has previously argued that implementing Verdi's full set of demands would add roughly 20 million euros in annual expenses, an increase deemed unsustainable given the current fiscal climate. The hospital group aims to reduce its deficit by 110 million euros by 2029, intensifying the pressure to reach a cost-effective agreement.

The situation is further complicated by recent events at Berlin's other major public hospital, Charité, where a subsidiary's service workers secured wage parity with TVöD after nearly 50 days of industrial action. This precedent has emboldened Vivantes employees, who have signaled a strong willingness to strike if negotiations do not progress satisfactorily. Many workers have already voiced their support for industrial action through a petition and internal consultations.

Vivantes has announced that, should Verdi accept its current offer, workers' wages would increase by 6.8 percent this year. However, union officials argue that this would still leave significant gaps, particularly regarding benefits such as occupational pensions. The lack of pension provisions for subsidiary employees has raised concerns about potential financial insecurity for staff in retirement.

In the coming days, Verdi plans to update its members on the status of negotiations and will host meetings at all Vivantes locations to discuss the strategy moving forward. The outcome of these discussions will likely determine whether Berlin's healthcare sector faces another extended period of labor unrest.