Berlin – In the dispute over better working conditions for nursing staff at the clinics of the state-owned Vivantes group, the employers’ side interrupted negotiations until Monday. The union, on the other hand, is calling for a quick solution to the conflict. The indefinite strike has now lasted three weeks. “But the Vivantes management still does not seem to be in a hurry,” said Meike Jäger, Verdi negotiator.
At the subsidiaries of the group, talks about adjusting wages to the level of the core workforce are being continued under the moderation of the former Brandenburg Prime Minister Matthias Platzeck (SPD). The Charité continued to struggle to find a solution on Friday. The last but decisive point there was the minimum occupation of individual stations. There is agreement on leisure time compensation. There should be a day off for five understaffed shifts. Trainees are included in the collective bargaining solution.
Also in the negotiations for a collective agreement relief at Vivantes, the target strength on wards is the biggest hurdle. “The staffing proposed by the employer would not be of any use to the employees in a number of areas,” said Meike Jäger. “In some areas they would even be a deterioration.” A staff key from one nurse for ten patients on normal wards during the day and only one nurse for 20 patients at night are unacceptable.
Vivantes: Verdi demands cannot be realized
The Vivantes management, however, calculates that the demands of the union are not feasible: 2800 more skilled workers would have to be hired or 1600 beds would have to be deregistered. “This number of skilled workers is currently not available,” writes Vivantes in a statement on Friday. In the meantime, the management had offered to adapt the services to the existing staff, which would have meant a reduction in the supply of services. Verdi was not fundamentally opposed to this model.
The union once again calls on politicians to meet their responsibilities in the clinic strike. The deputy state district manager Susanne Feldkötter said: “The Senate is asked to intervene in the state-owned clinic companies.” Clear commitments for financing are now required “and a clear message to the clinic management not to play for time and to close the negotiations very quickly to bring about a positive result for employees and patients “.
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