Warning strike hotspot Aachen: Kitas and buses affected!

Warning strike hotspot Aachen: Kitas and buses affected!

Verdi has announced that it will expand the warning strikes in the public service from Thursday, February 6, 2025. The union thus intervenes in an intensive collective bargaining conflict between the federal government and the municipalities, which has been in existence for some time. The effects are particularly noticeable in the Rhineland and Ruhr area. In many cities, daycare centers and swimming pools remain partially closed. Public transport is also affected, with buses and trains not driving in some regions. Citizens must also expect significant waiting times for offices and when collecting garbage cans, since employees also go on strike from waste disposal companies.

strikes are aachen, Bochum, Bottrop, Herne, Marl and the left Lower Rhine. In Aachen, for example, buses from the local transport company ASEAG are expected to stay in the depots. Many urban daycare centers only offer emergency care. In addition, employees of savings banks, administrative authorities and some municipal clinics are also involved in the warning strikes. A large rally with around 1,500 participants is expected in Aachen.

claims of the union and the level of negotiations

Verdi calls for a fee plus of 8 % or at least 350 euros more per month and three additional free days. However, the first round of negotiations on January 24th in Potsdam was unsuccessful. Representatives of the federal government and municipalities argue that the budget situation is difficult and that the wage increases are not feasible. These conditions are in the context of growing dissatisfaction among the public service employees, which has been characterized in recent months by repeated warning strikes and a high intensity of conflict.

The pressure on the collective bargaining in the public service has increased in recent years. The conflict intensity achieved an average of 8.9 points in the first quarter of 2023, which exceeded the previous year's value by 1.7 times. The situation in the public service, which recorded the highest level with 28 points, was particularly challenging. The high inflation and the associated increased cost of living allow employees to require better wages. The unions in the public service already demanded 10.5 % more wages or at least 500 euros per month.

effects of the strikes on the public

The continued strikes and the associated claims not only show up as internal challenges, but also have a direct impact on the public. In several federal states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, warning strikes and actions have already been carried out in various areas of the public service, including water and shipping management, municipal hospitals and municipal utilities. An example is parking management in Kiel, which is also strike and leads to loss of income.

The intensity of the tariff conflicts in the public service illustrates the high pressure under which the employees are. With a variety of warning strikes and the demands for better payment in the past few months, the unions have entered the dialogue with employers, but with a limited success. The situation remains tense and other strikes are not excluded because the negotiations on the required wage increases and better working conditions continue.