Ongoing Strike at CFM, Charité Subsidiary Persists - Ongoing Strike at Subsidiary of CFM Persists
Ongoing Wage Dispute Leads to Continued Strike at Charité's Facility Management Arm
Employees of the facility management arm, Charité Facility Management (CFM), at the renowned medical institution, Charité, are still on strike as of Friday, according to the union Verdi. The impact on the hospital's patients remains unclear.
Approximately 3,500 individuals work at CFM, fulfilling roles in areas such as medical technology, patient transport, cleaning, and security. Verdi is advocating for a wage agreement that mirrors the public service tariff currently in effect at Charité for 3,200 of these employees.
Negotiations between Verdi and CFM management have reached an impasse, with no resolution in sight. Despite three days of intense negotiations, employees have yet to receive a concrete offer. CFM is pushing for further concessions in the classification of staff.
A central strike meeting has been scheduled for Friday to discuss the next course of action.
Details have emerged suggesting that the non-medical workers, including cleaning, transport, canteen, security, logistics, and technical staff, are protesting wage dumping. These workers, employed by the CFM subsidiary rather than by Charité directly, fall outside the public sector collective agreement, resulting in lower wages compared to their counterparts within Charité.
Though not directly mentioned in the original text, the strike has been growing in participation and has withstood legal attempts by the CFM management to limit its impact, such as bans on the strike or the imposition of minimum emergency staffing levels.
The strike has disrupted essential services at Charité, particularly cleaning and patient transport, leading to restrictions in patient care. These support functions are crucial for Charité to operate smoothly. Without the work of CFM staff in cleaning, transport, catering, and technical services, the hospital's everyday functioning is significantly affected.
The community is calling for a policy change that addresses the disparity in wages between non-medical workers at Charité Facility Management (CFM), such as those in vocational roles like cleaning, transport, and logistics, and their counterparts within Charité. This demand stems from concerns about finance and industry equality, particularly in banking and insurance sectors and the burgeoning fintech industry, where vocational training could equip these employees with the necessary skills for higher pay and improved working conditions.
The ongoing strike at CFM is not just a dispute over wages; it's a plea for recognition and fair treatment for vocational workers who are essential to the smooth functioning of Charité's operations and, by extension, the healthcare industry at large. Continued vocational training and skill development could not only redefine these employees' roles but also establish a benchmark for fair compensation across sectors, inspiring other institutions to follow suit.
