Employees at over 100 theaters follow the call of the BFFS & GDBA unions

Berlin/Hamburg, March 18, 2025 For the first time, there were warning strikes by NV stage employees at German stages today! The artists' unions BFFS and GDBA had called for a 30-minute work stoppage. The trade unions unisono and VdO took part with solidarity strikes. In addition, ver.di had invited its members to take part in the actions during the break.

Several thousand employees at around 75% of German theaters responded to the call. The high turnout supports the unions' demands in the current collective bargaining negotiations, which will take place in Berlin on March 19 and 20. Among other things, it is about

• Five hours rest before the performance
• Binding weekly plans
• 39-hour week with full pay compensation for employees at
  Special regulation for stage technology for the 2025/26 season
• Compensation regulations for overtime
• Regulations for overtime pay

The aim of the trade unions is to achieve real relief and predictability through improved working time regulations.

"The overwhelming participation of our members, but also of colleagues from our partner unions, is a strong sign of solidarity, but also a clear signal to the employer side and supports our work at the negotiating table," explains Bernhard F. Störkmann, Managing Legal Counsel of the BFFS.

"The artists' unions have been trying to negotiate fair working conditions for decades. There have been decades without strike action and without any significant results. If significant results are needed from the strike, the employer side must also face up to our strike mobilization," said Lisa Jopt, Executive President of the GDBA.

The complete press release as PDF