“Either we come to an agreement or they have our backs”

10.05.2023 16:21

Around ten thousand doctors from municipal hospitals took part in an all-day warning strike on May 9th, called for by the Marburger Bund. Around 5,000 strikers from all regional associations of the Marburg Federation came to the central rally in Frankfurt am Main alone to send a clear signal to the Association of Municipal Employers' Associations (VKA). There were further strike actions in several federal states, for example in Hamburg, where around 1,500 striking doctors gathered.

The VKA is blocking an agreement in collective bargaining for around 55,000 doctors in municipal clinics nationwide. In four rounds of negotiations with the doctors' union, the municipal employers found themselves unable to respond to the Marburg Federation's demands with a concrete offer.

“We fight for our profession, but we won’t let ourselves be burned out. Employers should quickly get rid of the idea of being able to save on the backs of doctors. In doing so, they will repeatedly run into a wall with us and further exacerbate the conflict,” said Dr. Susanne Johna, 1st Chairwoman of the Marburger Bund, at the strike rally in Frankfurt.

In the collective bargaining dispute that has been going on for months, the Marburger Bund is demanding compensation for the price increases that have accumulated since the last wage increase in October 2021 for doctors in municipal clinics, effective January 1, 2023, and an additional linear increase in salaries of 2.5 percent. The Marburger Bund and VKA will meet on May 22nd for their fifth round of negotiations.

“Next time is the last chance to reach an agreement through a normal route. If it doesn't work, the ballot must follow and then a forced strike. “Either we come to an agreement or they have us,” shouted Dr. Andreas Botzlar, 2nd Chairman of the Marburger Bund, addressed the strikers on the Römerberg in Frankfurt.