Ahead of the third round of negotiations in the public-sector wage dispute for state employees, the Verdi union has continued its warning strikes. On Wednesday, employees at university hospitals, schools, and higher education institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, walked off the job, according to the union. The state administration and judiciary were also affected. Further warning strikes in the public sector are already planned in various states over the coming days.
Warning strikes also took place in several of Lower Saxony’s seaports. According to Verdi, work stopped on Wednesday at the seaport in Stade. On Thursday, work stoppages were set to follow in Cuxhaven and Emden. Verdi stated that emergency service agreements had initially been reached only for Emden.
In Hamburg, large-scale action is planned for Thursday. Verdi is calling on employees from district offices, schools, the fire department, state authorities, and the Hamburg University of Technology in Harburg to join a full-day warning strike. In Rostock and Greifswald in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, employees at the university hospitals there are also taking part in work stoppages.
The collective agreement for state employees, excluding those in Hesse, expired at the end of October. The unions are demanding a seven percent pay increase for state employees, but at least an additional 300 euros. The employers have yet to present a concrete offer. The third round of negotiations is scheduled to begin on February 11 in Potsdam.
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