Public sector strikes begin at German schools, hospitals and airports

Reuters

11 March 2015 at 6:17 am

BERLIN (Reuters) - German schools, kindergartens, hospitals and some regional airports were hit by strikes on Wednesday ahead of a third round of wage talks between trade unions and state officials. The trade unions are demanding a 5.5 percent pay rise for some three million civil servants in Europe's biggest economy. Frank Bsirske, head of the powerful services trade union Verdi, said the strikes would raise the pressure ahead of the next round of negotiations set for Monday and Tuesday next week. The DBB civil servants' union, GEW teachers' union and GdP police union joined the strikes which are scheduled to run until Friday. At Duesseldorf and Hanover airports, ground handling workers caused disruption by walking off the job. Each strike will only last a few hours. The action started in eight states on Wednesday and will move to other regions on Thursday and Friday. The TdL employers association for Germany's federal states has rejected the demand, saying it would cost 6.5 billion euros ($6.9 billion). German unions have been emboldened by a hefty wage increase won last month by IG Metall, Germany's biggest trade union. It clinched a 3.4 percent rise plus a one-off payment of 150 euros for the 3.7 million engineering workers it represents. In the last few years, German unions won above-average pay hikes after a decade of wage restraint and deals that failed to keep pace with inflation -- a trend that helped to improve Germany's competitiveness and to curb unemployment. But the smaller pay rises also exacerbated strains in the euro zone and raised pressure on Germany to back higher wage deals to boost domestic consumption. Raising wages and domestic demand in Germany are seen as ways of helping tackle current account imbalances in the euro zone. By the end of 2014, private consumption was the main engine of strong growth in Germany. This year's wage increase for IG Metall members is more than three times above Germany's inflation rate. ($1 = 0.9414 euros) (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Madeline Chambers and Raissa Kasolowsky)

The Telegraph
Listen: Biden says he is ‘first black woman to serve with a black president’
Joe Biden has said he is “proud” to be the first “black woman to serve with a black president” in one of a series of verbal gaffes as the USA celebrated Independence Day.
The Telegraph
The world must prepare for President Michelle Obama
The 2024 US Presidential race intensifies. Speculation abounds over potential replacements for President Joe Biden amid increasing pressure from his party and the media to step aside after a jaw-dropping, catastrophic debate against Donald Trump last week. Among the names circulating, a game-changer is emerging: Michelle Obama. Could this be America’s worst nightmare?
The Daily Beast
Conservatives Routed in Worst Election Result for 200 Years
LONDON—The Conservatives, the world’s winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party
NextShark
16-year-old Chinese boy beat with iron rod on New Zealand bus
On Friday morning, during the Maori New Year public holiday, a 16-year-old teen named Jason was brutally attacked on an Auckland bus by a woman wielding an iron rod. The assailant, described as a Maori woman “more than 200 kilograms," hit Jason multiple times and stabbed him in the face, knocking out five of his teeth, on board the bus after having allegedly shouted "ch*nk" at him at Johns Lane stop. Man intervenes: A 75-year-old Chinese man, Penglai Qiuyue, intervened and managed to grab the weapon, though he was also injured in the process.
People
Eva Amurri Doubles Down in Defense of Her Wedding Dress Cleavage: 'My 32F Boobs Minding Their Business'
The bride, who wore a corset-style Kim Kassas gown on her wedding day, previously clapped back at trolls who felt “scandalized” by her breasts
The Telegraph
Biden ‘seriously considering’ leaving election race
Joe Biden has for the first time said that he is considering ending his presidential campaign, according to reports.
Cinema Online
Joyce Chen confirms she has become a mother
The TVB actress shares photos of her and her daughter, not revealing partner's identity
The Telegraph
Beijing is laughing at the West’s weakness
Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russia’s actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support”. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.
Hello!
Rod Stewart, 79, rocked by divorce news: report
In a surprising turn of events Rod Stewart has received some shocking divorce news. See details.
Bloomberg
These flight routes suffer the world’s worst turbulence
A series of incidents that left scores of airline passengers needing medical attention has shone a spotlight on the problem of severe in-flight turbulence.
CNN
9 out of 10 voters say there are important differences between Biden and Trump. Here’s what they see as the biggest ones
If there’s one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, it’s that this year’s presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest CNN poll by SSRS, 91% of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77% of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called “double haters” – those with unfavorable views of
Cosmo
Jade Thirlwall frees the nipple in a see-through chainmail top
Jade Thirlwall appears on the cover of beat magazine wearing a see-through chainmail top to free the nipple. See the image shared on social media, here.
INSIDER
How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story
The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has been mentored by Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the UK election.
BuzzFeed
"It Was The Worst Betrayal I Have Ever Experienced": People Are Revealing The Shocking Reason Why They Don't Speak To Their Sibling Anymore
"Once it became clear he was committed to those ugly morals, I told him never to contact me."
Evening Standard
All change: When will Rishi Sunak have to move out of Number 10 — and where could he live next?
With the removal vans on standby, the current prime minister has a portfolio of high-end properties to choose from
INSIDER
I went inside a hidden room where flight attendants sleep on long-haul flights. I was amazed by its small size and comfy beds.
Business Insider's reporter toured a secret room above economy where Air New Zealand flight attendants sleep on long-haul Boeing 777-300ER flights.
The Independent
A couple rented an Airbnb from a ‘friendly’ landlord. Then they wound up dismembered in a suitcase
Michael Lee Dudley seemed like a typical Washington homeowner – until three teenagers stumbled across a suitcase of horrors on a beach
Hello!
Amanda Holden almost bears all in glamorous shower video from lavish bathroom
BGT's Amanda Holden looked sensational when she almost bore all in a candid shower video. See video.
The Telegraph
Cristiano Ronaldo accused of ‘ambush marketing’ after wearing £230 smart wristband
Cristiano Ronaldo’s heart-rate data during Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia has been made public by the maker of a wearable device with whom he has partnered.
The Smart Investor
4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell
There are good reasons not to let go of a great dividend-paying stock. Here are four of them I plan to hold for the rest of my life. The post 4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell appeared first on The Smart Investor.

Latest stories