© dpa
The trade union Verdi has called for warning strikes in the public sector on March 6 and 7.
A total of 6,000 to 7,000 people were expected to take part in warning strikes in the public sector. Among others, employees of the city cleaning service BSR, the water utilities and the Berlin swimming pools were called upon to participate.
According to BSR, garbage collection and the bulky waste collection service as well as recycling centers and street cleaning will be canceled all day on Monday and Tuesday. The Charité hospital postponed scheduled operations, while the municipal swimming pools also expect restrictions in operations. Warning strikes were also announced on Monday in the offices of the Federal Government, the Armed Forces and the Water and Shipping Administration.
According to union sources, hundreds of employees of several Berlin hospital operators went on strike early Monday morning. The warning strike began with the early shift at 5:30 am, said Verdi union secretary Max Manzey on Monday. The pickets gathered in front of the participating hospitals. Manzey spoke of an estimated 1,000 participants at Charité, the state-owned hospital group Vivantes and the Jewish Hospital. The walkout is expected to continue on Tuesday. An emergency service should be ensured.