Following a one-week strike by workers of the Berlin City Cleaning Company (BSR) in Germany, garbage piles have accumulated on the streets of Berlin. According to officials, it may take up to 2 weeks to collect the accumulated 12,000 tons of garbage. There is a risk that rodents like rats and mice could transmit around 120 diseases to humans, including salmonella, SARS, hantavirus, typhus, and the plague.

The strike carried out by the employees of Berlin City Cleaning Company (BSR) in Germany has caused chaos in the streets.

Due to the failure to reach an agreement on wages since the end of January, the labor union Ver.di called for a one-week strike for BSR workers from March 10th to 14th.

With the participation of BSR workers in the strike, garbage collection was not carried out in Berlin for a week. Waste-to-energy facilities, as well as biogas plants, did not operate due to the strike.

MAY CAUSE HEALTH ISSUES

As a result of the strike, garbage piles were visible on the streets and around garbage bins. Berliners left garbage bags overflowing around the bins.

It was also announced that the uncollected garbage could cause various health issues in addition to the bad odor it emitted. Warnings were issued against pests, especially rodent infestations, in the capital city.

It was reminded that rodents like rats and mice can transmit around 120 diseases to humans, including salmonella, SARS, hantavirus, typhus, and the plague.

Following the end of the strike, as of Monday, 1,300 waste collection workers returned to work to collect the accumulated 12,000 tons of garbage. However, officials warned that completely cleaning up the accumulated garbage piles could take up to 2 weeks.

WORKERS’ DEMANDS

An agreement has not yet been reached in collective wage negotiations between Ver.di union and the Berlin Employers’ Association since the end of January.

The unions demand an 8% increase in wages for employees, a monthly minimum of 350 euros, and higher bonuses, especially for stressful jobs. The employers, on the other hand, believe these demands are unattainable.

Ver.di union has stated that they will not call for a new strike within the next 14 days and will prioritize ensuring the cleanup of the accumulated garbage.