German union calls for strikes Wednesday following Friday action

Workers in Germany's service sector called for nationwide strikes in day-care centres and social institutions on Wednesday, following Friday's strikes which largely halted public transport in several German states.

Friday's walkout occurred after talks between the Verdi union and employers failed to resolve a pay dispute.

Verdi called on staff to go on strike to raise the pressure on municipal employers in the ongoing row over pay and conditions for workers in the public sector.

Wednesday's strikes are a reaction "to the completely inadequate offer made by the employers in the second round of negotiations for public sector workers," Verdi announced in Berlin.

Wednesday's labour action could result in shortened hours or closures, the union said.

The Friday strike action kept almost all trains and buses in Baden-Württemberg's larger cities parked in their depots.

Verdi said it was pleased with this start to the day of industrial action. "Everyone is taking part," said Reiner Geis from the region's Verdi office. In Stuttgart, however, suburban trains were still running despite the walkouts, as they are run by national train operator Deutsche Bahn, rather than the local council.

Meanwhile strikes were also held in Saxony, Hesse, North Rhine Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Verdi and the civil servants' association dbb are demanding 10.5% more income for the approximately 2.5 million employees, but at least €500 euros more per month. The second round of negotiations last week did not result in an agreement.

Christine Behle, Verdi's deputy chairwoman, described the employers' offer as a "provocation." She said workers urgently needed more money "to pay the sharply increased prices for rents, energy and food."

The Wednesday strikes fall on International Women's day. According to Verdi, that date was chosen because women make up 83% of the social work labour force.

The union is also organizing demonstrations and rallies throughout Germany then in conjunction with the women's organizations of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and feminist alliances.

The strikes come on the same day as planned demonstrations by Fridays for Future climate activists.