Court prohibits warning strike at MHH

The Hanover Labour Court has ruled that Verdi's demands do not justify a strike.

In the dispute with the trade union Verdi over a collective agreement on discharge (TV-E) for employees of Hannover Medical School (MHH), the Labour Court today ruled in favour of MHH. The Hanover Labour Court upheld the action brought by the state of Lower Saxony, represented by MHH, for an interim injunction, thereby prohibiting the three-day industrial action that Verdi had planned.

Relief for MHH employees not off the table

"This is important news for our patients," said MHH President Professor Michael Manns after the judgement was handed down. "Nevertheless, we are aware that further options must be agreed to ease the burden on our employees." MHH will therefore continue to try to remain in dialogue with Verdi and the Staff Council in order to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.

Court: Verdi demands non-negotiable facts

In May, Verdi called on the state of Lower Saxony to enter into negotiations for a TV-E for MHH employees, in which the introduction of additional staffing ratios for MHH employees and trainees as well as other measures are to be regulated - in addition to the existing collective agreement. The union linked the demand to a 100-day ultimatum, which expired last week.

As Verdi had not sufficiently specified the demands within these 100 days, MHH filed a lawsuit against the strike at the Hanover Labour Court on formal grounds. In its judgement, the court referred to the demands put forward by Verdi yesterday afternoon. However, Verdi was attempting to regulate matters that were not justiciable on the one hand and already regulated by collective agreements on the other.

Verdi rejected offer for agreement

As a state-run organisation, MHH cannot make its own collective bargaining arrangements. As the state is also unable to reach a separate collective agreement for the MHH without giving up its membership of the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL), the MHH Executive Board instead offered an agreement on relief measures with a management of consequences. Verdi rejected the offer. The MHH Executive Board and the state of Lower Saxony are continuing to explore possible solutions together and are willing to talk.

Verdi can appeal against the temporary injunction.

Text: Inka Burow

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