Unions call for more funds for public sector wages

Services union ver.di has criticised the German government’s increased funding for the hospital sector as an inadequate reaction to the crisis that doesn’t provide a long-term solution. The union says that the creation of 21,000 jobs is an indication that the government admits to the seriousness of the situation but is little compensation for the 100,000 jobs that have been cut from the sector in recent years, the effect of which has been to place enormous pressure on the remaining health workers. [Read more at > ver.di (DE)->http://presse.verdi.de/pressemitteilungen/showNews?id=f942bc0a-8651

(June 2016) The union for National Academy of Sciences Workers organised a demonstration outside the parliament on 15 June call for a major increase in spending on science spending. The union points out that, according to the final provisions of the Law on Science, such funding should be 1.7% of GDP by 1 January 2020, but last year it was only 0.3% of GDP, and this year is 0.2%. The lack of funding is having a direct impact on science workers and if there is no increase then employees of the National Academy will either have to go on unpaid leave or work part-time. This is part of a long

New regulations have applied in the elderly care sector from 1 January which include a set of values about the treatment of the elderly, including dignity and personal integrity. The Kommunal local government trade union argues that it is all very well to have such regulations but staffing shortages means there is a serious question as to whether the values can be delivered. The union says that it is not just a question of ensuring minimum staffing levels but also on improving pay and conditions to attract more staff and ensure that they are properly trained. [Read more at > Kommunal (SV)-