May 1 | Labor disputes and the unemployed

Shortly before the finish line, the drumming group from the Education and Science Union swerved to the left, allowing the demonstrators to pass. Their colleagues from IG Metall were already drumming in front of the Red City Hall. On May 1st, 11,000 people marched from Strausberger Platz to the City Hall in Berlin . Even as the deputy DGB district head, Nele Techen, finished her speech and handed over to Andrea Kocsis of the Verdi service union, more people continued to stream in front of the City Hall. "It's a fantastic sight," Kocsis said, delighted at the sight.

She is Verdi's deputy federal chairman. Kocsis recalls May 2, 1933. The Nazis stormed the union buildings back then. And today? "The AfD is gaining seats in every election. Their strategic goal is undoubtedly to undermine parliamentary democracy," says Kocsis. The AfD is trying to gain a foothold in companies and divide workforces. "We can't allow that. Not an inch to the fascists." Koscis complains that employers are increasingly bombarding unions with injunctions and demanding interventions in the right to strike. An employers' association has even drafted a bill on this. Kocsis demands: "Hands off the right to strike!"

The state leaders of the individual DGB unions marched at the front of the demonstration. Two rows behind them was Bundestag member Pascal Meiser (Left Party). He belongs to two individual unions: the service workers' union Verdi, for which he was already active as a student, and the IG Metall, for which he later worked as a union secretary. Berlin's Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey (SPD) participated from the beginning of the demonstration, but only joined the front line shortly before the Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall).

The Left Party formed its own, fairly large marching group. Among them were state chairwoman Franziska Brychcy, parliamentary group leader Tobias Schulze, and former Bundestag member Gesine Lötzsch. Gesine Lötzsch used the opportunity to distribute flyers promoting the traditional Reading Against Forgetting. As every year, the book burning of 1933 will be commemorated on May 10th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Bebelplatz. Actors such as Carolin Haupt and writers such as Ingo Schulze will read from texts that were thrown into the flames by the Nazis in 1933. This year, Lötzsch is organizing Reading Against Forgetting one last time. Next year, another comrade will take over. The Little Bookstore from the Karl Liebknecht House will have a booth again on Bebelplatz on May 10th, Lötzsch announced. It will be a farewell. After 35 years, this bookstore has to close and be run by owner Wanja Nitzsche. Lötzsch, a regular customer, regrets this. The impending closure at the end of May makes her sad.

Meanwhile, behind the DGB Youth loudspeaker van, things are merrily going on. Blasting techno rhythms, described as "awesome music," create a boisterous atmosphere. A woman's voice calls out from the loudspeaker van: "Today is not a workday, today is..." The crowd choruses: "Strike day." Or the woman offers the slogan: "Everyone already knows." The DGB Youth chants: "No fight, no higher wages!"

The 3,500 employees of Charité Facility Management (CFM), a subsidiary of the Chartité University Hospital, are particularly struggling. "We move tons every day. We deliver food to the wards, blood bags to the operating room," reports one dispatcher there. "What do we get for that? A pittance!" Newcomers to the workforce are paid €1,400 net per month. For three years, the Berlin Senate has promised to return the spun-off CFM to the Charité. This would mean that employees would once again be paid according to the collective wage agreement for the public sector (TVÖD). But nothing has happened. The 3,500 employees and their families will remember this broken election promise for next year's parliamentary elections. It's no coincidence that the Red City Hall will then chant: "TVÖD for everyone on the Spree!"

Unlike last year, there are no conflicts over Palestinian flags this time. It was agreed in advance that no national flags should be brought along at all. A solitary Chilean flag bothers no one. Solidarity with the Palestinians is expressed with scarves wrapped around the neck or through slogans on banners. The Communist Organization (KO) is calling for peace with Russia in addition to peace for Gaza. "Defensible, yes, but not against Russia, but against NATO's war drive!" This is the KO's statement. Anyone who believes they can oppose both NATO and Russia simultaneously is only helping NATO, argues one fellow activist.

A few steps away, the magazine "Socialism from Below" is doing just that. A small poster is attached to its information desk that reads: "Neither Putin nor NATO! Butter instead of guns!"

Various newspapers are distributed, including the "nd." Union secretary Dorothea Katharina Ritter takes a copy and also a smoking pipe bearing the nd logo. Upon first attempt, she discovers that her red lipstick isn't kiss-proof and rubs off on the pipe. She takes it in good humor and, laughing, suggests that the left-wing daily newspaper should develop a lipstick that doesn't—a "Red Stick," perhaps combined with the advertising slogan "Red Must Stay."

In Berlin and Brandenburg, various trade union events will take place on May 1st, attracting a total of almost 33,000 participants. Sebastian Walter, state chairman of the Left Party, will appear at a street festival in Strausberg. He has already declared in advance: "On May 1st and every other day, we as the Left Party will stand alongside the trade unions in support of workers' rights that have been hard-fought for over decades. We will not allow these to be demolished by the new federal government. The eight-hour day will remain. The minimum wage must increase to €16."

Meanwhile, the usual spring occupancy rate in the labor market in the capital region is missing, and the number of unemployed remains almost unchanged. The numbers should have declined in April. Instead, 217,508 Berliners were registered as unemployed, 17,195 more than a year ago. In Brandenburg, the number of unemployed rose by 4,344 to 86,402 compared to April 2024. The unemployment rate in Berlin is now 10.3 percent, and in Brandenburg, 6.4 percent. "300,000 unemployed people in the region are cause for concern," says Ramona Schröder , regional director of the Federal Employment Agency.

"300,000 unemployed people in the region are cause for concern."

Ramona Schröder, Head of the Employment Agency