German Firefighters' Union demands pay for dispatch staff

The German Firefighters' Union (DFeuG) is demanding financial compensation and increased recognition for employees working in emergency dispatch centers. Manuel Barth, chairman of the Berlin-Brandenburg state association, stated that while field personnel receive certain allowances, dispatch staff face massive increases in workload and call volumes without comparable compensation.

The union highlights that technical malfunctions and increased work density are pushing staff to their limits. This lack of recognition has led to experienced employees leaving the sector or moving to other federal states, resulting in chronic personnel shortages and high training costs.