Wiesbaden/Marburg (dpa/lhe) – Hundreds of public sector employees went on a warning strike in Wiesbaden and Marburg on Thursday. There was an overall high willingness to strike, said the managing director of the Verdi district of Wiesbaden, Marcel Schmelz. The background are several collective bargaining conflicts.
The municipal employees of the city of Wiesbaden and their companies were called upon to take part in the warning strike, including the employees of the Helios Horst-Schmidt clinics. At a rally in Wiesbaden, around 400 strikers came together and loudly demanded an increase in collective wages. There were effects on waste and bulky waste collection, but the extent of the warning strike for citizens remained manageable, the city said.
According to Verdi, 300 employees took part in the warning strike in the Helios Horst-Schmidt clinics. “We have prepared for the warning strike with emergency service agreements that we have agreed with the Verdi union,” said a spokesman. As a result, patient care was fully guaranteed in all areas. Some operations were postponed at short notice, and patients in the outpatient clinics might have had to expect longer waiting times.
In Marburg, the city administration and service companies as well as city daycare centers remained mostly closed or had changed opening hours. Four daycare centers remained open for emergency services.
The Verdi union is demanding 10.5 percent more money for the 2.5 million federal and local employees nationwide, but at least 500 euros. Apprentices should get 200 euros more. In Hesse, 120,000 employees are affected. Collective bargaining will continue in Potsdam on February 22nd and 23rd.
verdi has announced a massive warning strike in Frankfurt and the region for this Friday, which will have an impact on Frankfurt Airport and local public transport. So there will be no regular passenger flights. All metro lines and ten tram lines will be affected throughout the day. However, S-Bahn and buses should run. In Wiesbaden, too, there may be significant disruptions to local public transport.