University employees encouraged to go on a work stoppage by the GEW union
The Education and Science Union (GEW) in Leipzig has announced a university strike, scheduled for next Tuesday, due to ongoing concerns about precarious employment conditions and inadequate pay among academic and support staff at Leipzig universities.
The decision to strike was made by the union members, who are calling for improved labor conditions, permanent employment contracts, and a separate collective bargaining agreement for student assistants.
The union argues that many staff—including student assistants—are currently engaged on temporary or part-time contracts without sufficient job security. They seek a dedicated collective bargaining framework to address these issues specifically for student workers, who often earn less and face different working conditions than other staff.
The push for permanent contracts targets the common use of fixed-term contracts, which limit long-term job security and career planning. Meanwhile, calls for a separate collective bargaining agreement for student assistants aim to recognize the distinct status and contributions of these workers.
In addition, the union is demanding a 10.5% salary increase, amounting to at least 500 euros, to combat inflation and cost-of-living escalations affecting staff livelihoods.
This strike follows broader regional and national trends where unions representing university employees advocate for better labor conditions amid rising living costs and demands for more stable academic employment.
For now, the core reasons for the strike are tied to improving pay, securing permanent contracts, and establishing tailored collective bargaining for student assistants. Further details, such as the exact strike dates, detailed demands, and negotiation progress, will likely be clarified as discussions progress.
The union members, advocates of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, are calling for improved labor conditions, including permanent employment contracts and a separate collective bargaining agreement for student assistants, as they aim for more job security and equitable treatment.In recognition of the learning opportunities and critical contributions of student assistants towards personal-growth and education-and-self-development, the union seeks a dedicated collective bargaining framework to address the distinct working conditions and pay structures affecting these workers.
