Charité Facility Management Workers Launch Indefinite Strike Over Wage Dispute

The strike, supported by 99.3% of Verdi members, follows failed negotiations as workers demand wage alignment with public sector standards.

The indefinite strike began on April 2, 2025, with CFM employees halting work in essential support roles such as cleaning, security, and patient transport.
Verdi union is demanding that 3,200 of the 3,500 CFM employees be paid according to the public sector collective agreement (TVöD).
CFM management claims meeting these demands would increase wage costs by 40.9%, amounting to an additional €42.7 million annually, jeopardizing the company's financial viability.
Charité hospital has implemented contingency plans to minimize disruptions, though the specific impact on patient care remains uncertain.
The labor dispute has persisted for years, with Verdi accusing CFM management of obstruction and holding the CDU-SPD coalition partly responsible for the unresolved conflict.