Stage workers demand better working conditions: strike history begins!

Von Markus Schneiderling

Am 19.03.2025 forderte die GDBA bessere Arbeitsbedingungen für Bühnenarbeiter. Erster Streik der Gewerkschaft an über 100 Bühnen.
On March 19, 2025, GDBA called for better working conditions for stage workers. First strike of the union at over 100 stages. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

On March 19, 2025, the stage workers, organized in the GDBA (union of stage workers), call for better working conditions on more than 100 German stages. This represents the first strike in the history of the stage union. The GDBA uses this massive industrial action to enforce claims such as pre-week plans, compensation for time and longer contracts. The strike is seen as an important means in industrial action law, which in the past was particularly shaped by sporadic warning strikes. In the recent past there was the last nationwide strike event of the GDBA in 2015. At that time, employers were not ready to go into the concerns of the unions, which led to a short but effective warning strike in which rehearsals were broken in all theaters.

According to the GDBA claims, the working conditions for many employees in the industry are still inadequate. In the narrow framework of a collective agreement that applies until December 31, 2024, there is a peace obligation that has so far restricted future strikes. However, after the existing contract has expired in January 2025, the NV stage employees could lead to permanent strikes if the negotiations do not lead to satisfactory results. The pressure is growing, and the GDBA has already called for solidarity with ver.di of state and state theaters to support their demands.

The legal framework

strikes, as they are currently organized by the GDBA, must be in accordance with German labor law. Article 9 of the Basic Law guarantees freedom of coalition for employees in the public service, regardless of sovereign tasks. This means that employers are obliged to respect the rights of employees when filling workplaces and take into account strikes. This has special relevance in the public service, since strikes often affect the general population and employers often do not suffer any direct financial damage.

In the past, employers in the public sector, such as local transport companies, have often benefited from high grants, which increases their resilience to strikes. In this context, the GDBA supports the demands of ver.di and sees the strongest way to bring about changes in the sector in a uniform front.

A look at the culture

In parallel to these labor law developments, Naomi Beckwith, the new head of Documenta, is introducing her concept for the upcoming exhibition in 2027 in Kassel. This happens at a time when Bernard Macmahon's "Becoming Led Zeppelin" documentation also throws a new light on the historical and cultural importance of the British band Led Zeppelin. The cultural landscape is therefore shaped by creative challenges and labor law struggles, while stage workers stand up for fair treatment and appropriate conditions.

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