Care workers walk off the job in latest German industrial action
Workers at German kindergartens and other care facilities went on strike on Friday, the latest industrial action in an ongoing wage dispute involving public sector employees.
Trade union verdi said it was expecting a strong turnout after calling for strikes in sectors dominated by female workers, including daycare centres, youth and welfare offices, hospitals and care homes.
Thousands of employees walked off the job in the northern city of Hamburg, the union said, with thousands expected to join rallies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state.
Many daycare centres remained closed across Germany in an attempt by labour representatives to ramp up pressure on the federal government and municipalities before a third round of collective bargaining negotiations due to begin next week.
Verdi said Friday's strikes were also intended to send "a clear signal" on the occasion of Equal Pay Day, marked each year on March 7, and International Women's Day on Saturday, calling for "more pay equity and better working conditions" for public sector workers in social professions, which are typically dominated by women.
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