Teachers in Bremen demand: relief now! Warning strike on December 10th!

Teachers in Bremen demand: relief now! Warning strike on December 10th!

On Wednesday, December 10th, the time has come: The Bremen Education and Science Union (GEW) is calling for an all-day warning strike for employees at schools and independent providers. This is happening as part of the ongoing collective bargaining for state employees. The demands are clear and clear solutions are required: The GEW wants a salary increase of 7% or at least 300 euros more for the next 12 months. But there is another explosive point to the matter - the protest is vehemently directed against the introduction of the 41-hour week for Bremen civil servants, which has not yet been finally decided. As part of this protest, the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) is also planning a human chain at the citizenry, which will take place from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to draw attention to the grievances.

The GEW expects that there will be lesson cancellations and childcare deficits during the strike. Ramona Seeger, state board spokeswoman for GEW Bremen, reports that the employers have not yet made a negotiable offer. Employees at independent organizations such as the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and Martinshof are also called on to strike. Seeger emphasizes that not only teachers employed under collective agreements are affected by the austerity measures, but that the entire educational situation in Bremen is at stake.

Protests and demands

There is great dissatisfaction with Bremen's education policy. At a recent demonstration, which was estimated to be attended by between 3,000 and 4,000 school employees, it became clear that the camel's back was overflowing. A front banner clearly read: "Enough is enough. Relief now!" In addition to the plans to increase working hours, the protesters also criticize the extension of attendance times at schools and the removal of the age reduction for older teachers. These cost-cutting measures make Bremen unattractive as a workplace for educators, warns GEW state spokesman Fabian Kinz. According to a scientific study, it has been shown that staff are increasingly suffering from high levels of time and psychological stress.

The GEW is calling for school employees to organize themselves and to have their voices heard loudly in the upcoming collective bargaining round. This could be particularly important as our education system desperately needs improvements in working conditions. As Kinz emphatically emphasizes, the measures to increase attendance time and the abolition of tuition discounts could lead to more sick leave and lesson cancellations. The planned discontinuation of paid training for educators in practice-integrated training (PIA) also met with sharp criticism.

A look at collective bargaining

The current collective bargaining negotiations for public sector employees have been conducted by the Collective Bargaining Association of German States (TdL) since December 3rd. It remains to be seen how the discussions will develop, as there has not yet been a concrete offer from employers. The GEW hopes for a high level of participation in the strike in order to strengthen its negotiating position. While Verdi is joining the DGB campaign, she is not yet planning any warning strikes of her own.

The mood is tense, and the coming week will be crucial both for teachers and for education policy in Bremen as a whole. The challenges are great and time is of the essence: it is not just education that is at stake, but also the working conditions of countless employees who are there for our children every day.

As Ramona Seeger rightly notes, it is worth fighting to improve conditions. Only in this way will education in Bremen become more attractive for teachers again in the future.

For more information, see the articles from Weser courier, District newspaper and ver.di.