German trade union ver.di has called on hospital, care and emergency services workers to strike nationwide on March 6. 900 childcare workers in Saxony are also due to carry out a separate but simultaneous strike.
Employees working in hospitals, care facilities and for the emergency services will strike across Germany on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Certain facilities providing emergency care will continue service, but the strikes mean that any non-urgent surgeries will likely be postponed.
The warning strike is scheduled to end on Thursday night, but ver.di has warned that hospitals, care facilities and emergency services may still be impacted into Friday morning.
The industrial action planned for Thursday is the latest in a string of regional and nationwide public sector strikes. On behalf of employees in hospitals, care facilities, emergency services, Kitas, theatres, swimming pools, rubbish collection, water services, schools and disability support, among other sectors, ver.di is demanding an 8 percent pay rise or 350 euros extra per month.
"Most people in this country are aware of what employees in hospitals and care facilities, in psychiatric hospitals and the emergency services do for society every day. But public employers lack recognition," ver.di representative Sylivia Bühler said in a press release.
“Healthcare employees spend their days looking after others; with this warning strike, they are looking out for their own needs,” Bühler added. “[They] aren’t giving anything away for free. They expect a fair wage and better conditions for their highly demanding and professional work”. Trade union and government representatives will return to the negotiating table in Potsdam on March 14 to 16.
Kitas in Saxony will also be impacted by strikes on Thursday and Friday. Separate from the strikes organised by ver.di, on March 5, 900 Kita workers will join a warning strike organised by the Education and Science Workers Union (GEW).
The industrial action is expected to impact childcare facilities in Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. Like public sector strikes organised by ver.di, the GEW demands an 8 percent pay rise for childcare workers in the eastern federal state.
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