Strike actions recommended at Berlin schools by labor union
In Berlin, Germany, the GEW union has announced a citywide school strike scheduled for Thursday, 5th December. The strike involves employed educators, social workers, psychologists, and childcare staff in all-day programs, with the union also including education workers in its demands.
The strike is not limited to teachers but encompasses a broader range of school staff, reflecting concerns about systemic neglect and growing workloads in Berlin schools. The union is pushing for a collective agreement to reduce classroom sizes and increase support staff, aiming to address chronic overworking in the city's educational institutions.
The GEW has been actively advocating for improved working conditions, with demands for better pay, more staff, and enhanced support for educators. Strikes and negotiations with education authorities are common tools used by the union to press these demands.
Recent developments in the ongoing negotiations are not immediately clear, as the Berlin Senate has refused to negotiate, citing membership in the Collective Bargaining Association of the States (TdL) that opposes such contracts. Despite this, the GEW continues to press on with the strike.
The strike is expected to cause disruptions in Berlin schools, potentially affecting thousands of students and their families. Childcare staff in all-day programs have also joined the strike, due in part to complaints about being left to oversee children during previous strikes.
In a demonstration held outside the Abgeordnetenhaus, the GEW sought to pressure the Berlin Senate to address these concerns. The left-wing opposition has also sought to highlight the government's austerity plans and their potential negative effects, but debates are expected to focus on accelerating housing construction instead.
It's important to note that civil servant teachers are barred from participating in the strike. The union, however, has urged employed educators, social workers, psychologists, and childcare staff to join the protest.
For the most current information on the status of the strike and any potential developments in collective bargaining agreements, we recommend checking recent local news, official GEW statements, or Berlin education authority communications directly.
The GEW strike, beyond influencing teachers, extends to involve social workers, psychologists, and childcare staff, as their concerns about systemic neglect and workload issues in Berlin's educational institutions align with the union's broader campaign for education-and-self-development. Amidst the political landscape, the GEW is actively advocating for a collective agreement to improve working conditions, which includes reducing classroom sizes and increasing support staff – a demand that transcends general-news headlines.
