By Sara Orlos Fernandes
Employees of the Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR), Charité, Vivantes, Berliner Wasserbetriebe and the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft as well as the Studierendenwerk Berlin have laid down their work. They demand inflation compensation.
With music, whistles and flags, public sector employees marched from the House of Representatives to Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg on Thursday. In nationwide collective bargaining, Verdi is demanding 10.5 percent more wages for 2.5 million employees, but at least 500 euros more per month.
The gate to the recycling center in Lichtenberg is locked Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Not enough for many: “I’m a single mom and I’m embarrassed that at the end of the month I have to ask my parents for a Fuffi so that I can make ends meet. The 10.5 percent does not compensate for inflation, but it is a start,” says BSR street cleaner Caro R. (40).
For BSR, the warning strike will continue on Friday. 14 recycling centers remain closed. If you want to get rid of your bulky waste, you have to be patient. On Thursday, a security employee guarded the gate to the courtyard on Fischerstrasse in Lichtenberg to prevent bulky waste from being dumped there.
Thorsten F. (43), garbage worker: “The last salary increase was in 2018. We have more and more garbage, but the salary remains the same. That’s sad” Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Residual waste and organic waste bins and some bins for recyclables are also not emptied in many places. Garbage collection should only be made up for at the next regular appointment. This can take up to two weeks!
The first round of collective bargaining took place on January 24th. The employers have not yet responded to the demands. The next round is expected on February 22nd or 23rd. “We are extremely disappointed that there was no offer in the first round. Zero rounds don’t work at all,” says Roland J. (60) from Berliner Wasserbetriebe to BZ