German hospital doctors strike over pay

BERLIN

Thousands of German doctors at university hospitals walked off the job on Tuesday to demand wage increases and improvements in their working conditions.

Around 5,000 doctors from around the country gathered in the western city of Hannover for a major rally to highlight their demands, and increase pressure on federal states.

They carried banners and signs bearing the messages, “My job is to heal but my work makes me sick,” “Doctors at limit, patients in danger,” “University hospitals, come in and burn out,” and “The working dead.”

Due to the strike, university hospitals canceled some of the scheduled appointments and operations, but emergency services remained open to treat people who need urgent care.

The Marburger Bund union is demanding a 12.5% pay increase for around 20,000 doctors at the university hospitals, as well as changes to long shifts and on-call working arrangements.

The union says the salary of doctors working at university hospitals is much lower than their colleagues at municipal hospitals, although they have to work more intensive shifts.