Following a week-long strike by employees of the Berlin City Cleaning Company (BSR) in Germany, piles of trash have accumulated on the streets of Berlin. Authorities estimate that it may take 2 weeks to collect the accumulated 12,000 tons of trash. Rodents like rats and mice pose a risk of transmitting about 120 diseases to humans, including salmonella, SARS, hantavirus, typhus, and the plague.

The strike conducted by employees of the Berlin City Cleaning Company (BSR) in Germany has resulted in chaos on the streets.

After unsuccessful wage negotiations since the end of January, the labor union Ver.di called for a one-week strike by BSR employees from March 10-14.

With BSR employees joining the strike, garbage was not collected in Berlin for a week. Waste collection facilities, as well as energy-from-waste plants and biogas plants, did not operate due to the strike.

POTENTIAL HEALTH CONCERNS

As a result of the strike, trash piles were observed on the streets and around trash bins in Berlin. Residents left overflowing trash bags around litter bins.

It was pointed out that the uncollected trash, in addition to emitting foul odors, could lead to various health issues. Warnings were issued in the capital against pests and especially a rat invasion.

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

After the end of the strike, starting on Monday, 1,300 garbage collectors went back to work to collect the accumulated 12,000 tons of trash.

However, officials warned that it may take up to 2 weeks to completely clean up the accumulated trash piles. EMPLOYEE DEMANDS

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

The unions are demanding an 8% increase in wages, a minimum of 350 euros per month, and higher bonuses, especially for stressful tasks. Employers, on the other hand, believe these demands are unreasonable.

Ver.di union will not call for another strike within the next 14 days and will first ensure the cleanup of the accumulated trash.