Building cleaning sector wage dispute in Germany

The IG BAU union is demanding a wage increase of two euros per hour for building cleaning workers in the Märkischer Kreis region of Germany. This demand would raise the hourly wage to 17 euros. The union argues that current offers from employers fail to compensate for inflation and do not reflect the physically demanding nature of the work, which often involves early morning or late-night shifts.

Approximately 3,530 employees and 57 cleaning companies are affected in the Märkischer Kreis area. The union warns that insufficient pay could exacerbate existing labor shortages, as high turnover and sick leave rates are already significant challenges for the industry. The sector has seen substantial growth, with revenues nearly doubling to almost 30 billion euros over the last decade.

The next round of collective bargaining negotiations between the IG BAU and the Federal Guild Association of the Building Cleaning Trade is scheduled for November 3.