Strike at Awista in Dusseldorf to Last for Three Days, Commencing on Thursday
In the heart of Germany, the city of Düsseldorf is facing a temporary disruption in its waste management services due to a labor strike scheduled from March 9 to 11, 2023. The strike, led by the United Services Trade Union (ver.di), involves garbage collectors, street cleaners, employees of Düsseldorf's Stadtwerke, and city drainage workers.
The strike aims to press for better working conditions and wages in the waste disposal sector. Although the specific demands for this strike are not extensively detailed, ver.di generally calls for wage increases and improved terms of employment in public service sectors like waste management.
The financial situation of garbage collectors is reportedly tight due to rising energy and food prices. Union secretary Henning Brust describes the mood among striking workers as "pissed off".
The net increase offered by the employers, around 45 to 60 euros, does not cover the price increase, according to Brust. The employers had offered a 3% increase from October, after nine 'zero months'. However, this offer falls short of the union's expectations for a substantial pay increase in the public sector wage round.
As a result of the strike, trash cans in Düsseldorf will not be emptied from March 9 to March 11. Recycling centers in the city will also remain closed during this period. The disruption is expected to significantly impact the cleaning of Düsseldorf's old town over the weekend, potentially causing sanitation concerns and inconvenience for residents.
ver.di has warned of the impact of the strike on Düsseldorf's old town. The union also calls for Awista employees to join the strike from March 9 to March 11. The strike will also affect street cleaning services in the city.
Residents are advised to manage their waste carefully during this period to minimise the impact of the strike. While the strike is a temporary disruption, it highlights the ongoing issues faced by waste workers and the need for fair compensation and working conditions in the sector.
The strike organized by ver.di could expand to include Awista employees, potentially affecting the aerospace industry's supply chain, given Awista's role in aviation services. The union's demands for better wages and working conditions in the public service sectors, such as waste management and aerospace, mirror the financial struggles faced by industry workers, including garbage collectors, who are grappling with rising energy and food prices.
