Continued Link Establishment for Charité Subsidiary CFM: Maintaining Elevated Pressure Remains Crucial
Striking employees at Charité Facility Management GmbH (CFM) were taken aback on Tuesday as police officers, seemingly unrelated to the jurisdiction of the situation, observed picketers in the courtyard of the Virchow Clinic. A striker told "nd" that the Charité, not the police, has authority in this matter. Suspicions arose that the Charité management may be involved in the police presence. This move is seen as less than favorable by employees, as negotiations are ongoing at a higher level.
The work stoppage, initiated by CFM employees last week, has persisted for a full week. However, a decision was made on Friday to suspend the strike, contingent on CFM and Charité's agreement to negotiate. These negotiations are set to resume on Monday.
The discussions between Verdi, the service trade union, and CFM will center around a phased plan to achieve wage levels in line with the public service wage agreement (TVöD). Additionally, improvements in individual work conditions from the ancillary wage agreement will be discussed.
Gisela Neunhöffer, a Verdi negotiator, confirmed that extensive discussions preceded the decision to temporarily suspend the strike. A strike assembly composed of over 300 individuals made the decision to halt the strike on Friday morning.
However, the striking employees remain vigilant, with one dietary assistant stating that they will return to the streets if CFM continues to obstruct negotiations. Similarly, Anne Ruback, a dietary assistant and negotiator for the strikers, expressed her confidence in CFM and Charité, but warned that they will resume striking if negotiations are hindered.
The Berlin Hospital Association (BKG) CEO, Marc Schreiner, has openly opposed the idea of paying CFM employees according to TVoD, deeming it irresponsible. He claims Verdi is practicing clientelism by striking at Charité at the expense of all city hospitals. Schreiner further argues that integrating CFM into Charité's tariff would incur additional, consumptive costs of approximately 40 million euros without creating any additional value.
Tobias Schulze, leader of the Left faction in the Berlin House of Representatives, has been consistently accompanying the CFM strike. He believes that implementing TVoD at CFM could mark a significant step towards improved working conditions in all Berlin hospitals. Schulze emphasized that the Senate must take responsibility and allocate funds to ensure fair pay for Charité, a major university hospital, and subsequently support all other hospitals. The Left has been advocating for a "Fund for Good Work" in conjunction with Verdi to support both public and private hospital providers.
Despite the involvement of political figures, the Senate Finance Administration has stated that it is not involved in the collective bargaining negotiations. When asked about the Senate's financial capacity to support a collective wage for all Charité employees, the Senate Administration remains evasive.
The CFM employees involved in the labor dispute have clarified that their strike has only been suspended until Monday evening. If substantial progress is not made in negotiations by then, the strike will recommence immediately.
- The suspension of the strike by CFM employees, triggered by disagreements over wage levels and work conditions, is contingent on negotiations between Verdi and CFM resuming on Monday, focusing on aligning wages with the public service wage agreement (TVöD) and improving individual work conditions.
- Involved in the labor dispute, the Left faction in the Berlin House of Representatives, led by Tobias Schulze, has been advocating for implementing TVoD at CFM as a significant step towards improved working conditions in all Berlin hospitals, stressing the importance of the Senate taking responsibility and allocating funds to ensure fair pay for all hospitals.
- While political figures have been involved in the CFM strike, the Senate Finance Administration has clarified that it is not participating in the collective bargaining negotiations, and when asked about the Senate's financial capacity to support a collective wage for all Charité employees, the Administration remains evasive.
