Munich (dpa / lby) – The Verdi union is not planning any major warning strikes in Bavaria for the coming week. The second round of collective bargaining for the nationwide 2.5 million employees in the public sector at federal and local level begins in Potsdam on Wednesday. Until then, “the warning strikes will now be reduced; actions can only be expected in Munich, Augsburg and Bamberg,” said the union. Nothing major is planned for Friday next week either, said tariff coordinator Peter Hoffmann.
With an unexpectedly high participation of over 7,000 strikers, the employees in Bavaria have already sent a clear signal, said the deputy Verdi regional manager, Sinan Öztürk. If the second round of negotiations doesn’t work, “we’ll top it”. In Nuremberg, the union announced a large rally for March 1st with young employees and trainees from all over Bavaria.
Verdi demands 10.5 percent more salary, but at least 500 euros more per month for a period of twelve months. “The negative attitude of the employers, especially with regard to the required minimum amount of 500 euros and 200 euros for the trainees, was viewed extremely negatively by the employees,” said Öztürk. Day care centers, garbage disposal, indoor swimming pools, theaters or offices were on strike this week in Augsburg, Regensburg, Straubing, Schweinfurt, Aschaffenburg, Bamberg, Fürth, Ansbach, Erlangen and Kulmbach. The employees at Munich Airport stopped work on Friday.
