Indefinite strikes threaten Berlin daycare centers from the end of the month

In Berlin’s municipal daycare centers, there is a threat of indefinite strikes. In a ballot held by the Verdi union, enough members voted in favor of such industrial action, Verdi announced. The union says it is planning to start the indefinite industrial action on September 30. Today, union representatives are scheduled to meet with Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch and Finance Senator Stefan Evers (both CDU) to discuss a possible solution to the conflict.

The union’s goal is to reach a collective agreement for better working conditions for employees in the city’s daycare centers. The GEW union has also had its members vote on indefinite strikes in city daycare centers, and the result is also expected to be announced today.

Wegner has ruled out collective bargaining

The indefinite strikes are now threatening the almost 300 daycare centers run by Berlin’s own companies, which care for around 35,000 children. According to the education administration, there are a total of around 2,900 daycare centers in Berlin, most of which are run by independent providers.

The Berlin Senate does not want to negotiate a so-called relief collective agreement because it assumes that Berlin would then be thrown out of the collective bargaining association of the states. “We will not enter into collective bargaining,” said Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) recently.