Warning Strike Planned at Berlin's Charité and Vivantes Hospitals

In response to ongoing negotiations regarding public service compensation, the Verdi union has announced a two-day warning strike at Berlin's renowned Charité and Vivantes hospitals. The strike is set to occur next week on Thursday and Friday, targeting non-medical staff, particularly nursing and therapeutic personnel.

Charité and Vivantes are among the largest hospital conglomerates in Germany, and their participation in the strike underscores the significance of the labor movement within the healthcare sector. Union representatives expressed their expectation that these institutions would advocate for favorable financial offers on behalf of their employees.

Moreover, the strike will likely see solidarity from subsidiary companies at Vivantes, which includes cleaning and service staff. To ensure the continuity of essential healthcare services during the strike, Verdi is currently collaborating with hospital management to develop a contingency plan. While emergency services will remain operational, it is anticipated that non-urgent surgeries may be postponed.

The backdrop to this industrial action is a broader national dispute over pay, with Verdi and the civil servants' association demanding an eight percent salary increase or a minimum raise of EUR350 per month. Additionally, the union is seeking enhanced allowances for particularly demanding job roles.

As part of the mobilization efforts, Verdi has organized a demonstration scheduled for Thursday, which will march from the Federal Ministry of Finance to the headquarters of the Association of Local Employers (VKA) at Spittelmarkt. This demonstration is part of a larger push for improved labor conditions in the public sector.

The next round of negotiations regarding public service salaries is slated for February 17 and 18. Stakeholders are keenly observing these discussions, given their implications for workers across various sectors.