Why nothing is working at universities today
This article was originally published in German. The English version is an automatic translation and may contain errors. The German original is authoritative.
Student staff lay down work on Wednesday – demonstrations also taking place in Würzburg
Anyone experiencing empty tutorials, postponed exercises or delayed marking at the university today is not encountering coincidence, but strike action. On Wednesday, 28 January, the trade unions ver.di and GEW have called for work stoppages at universities across the country. Affected are student staff, collectively bargained employees, trainees, interns and dual degree students – in other words, precisely those groups without whom university life would barely function.
Numerous employees in Würzburg can also participate. From 9 o'clock, strikers will gather at the Felix-Fechenbach-Haus, before a demonstration march towards the city centre starts at around 11 o'clock. The rally at the Vierröhrenbrunnen is planned for approximately 12 to 1 p.m. In addition to employees, students without employment contracts are also invited to show solidarity.
The background to the strike is the ongoing pay dispute in the public service of the federal states. The trade unions are demanding noticeable improvements in wages and working conditions. A central point of contention is the situation of student staff: they often work at universities for years, but so far have no collective bargaining agreement of their own. The movement TVStud is therefore campaigning for fixed minimum wages, longer contract periods and binding minimum hours .
For all strikers: participation is legally permitted. Student staff may lay down their work without having to notify this beforehand. Disadvantages from the employer are inadmissible. Whilst wages for the strike day are forfeited, union members can, however, receive strike pay if they enter themselves in the corresponding lists on the strike day.
Mobilisation on the ground is organised, amongst others, by the Student Staff Department of Student representation, which emphasises: the strike is not directed against students, but is intended to create better working and studying conditions for all in the long term.