Dresden (dpa / sn) - trade unions and parties such as the left and the SPD called for more appreciation for the work of women on International Women's Day this Wednesday. Demands for more equality, better working conditions, good wages and pensions and a fair division of care work will be taken to the streets on Wednesday, said DGB Vice President Daniele Kolbe on Monday in Dresden.
The focus is on warning strikes in the public sector and the campaign "One women's day for everyone - March 8th as a public holiday". Making this day a public holiday in Saxony as well would be an important signal from society as a whole for the appreciation and equality of women, emphasized Kolbe. The SPD and the left also spoke out in favor of introducing a public holiday on March 8th.
Already on Tuesday, the "Equal Pay Day" - the day of equal pay - is about equal pay for women. "Unfortunately, equal pay for equal work remains at the top of the list of tasks," explained Left Party politician Susanne Scheidereiter. In Germany, "Equal Pay Day" falls on March 7 this year. It marks the day by which women would have to work longer hours from the beginning of the year to get equal pay for work of equal value.
SPD leader Kathrin Michel sees the fundamental judgment of the Federal Labor Court as a milestone for equal pay: "The legal situation is now clear: equal work, equal wages. Everything else is unfair and illegal. But women still work the first 65 days of the year, so to speak ' for free', while men will be paid for their work from January 1st."
In the words of Laura Stellbrink, chairwoman of the Saxon SPD women, "the answer to the wage gap between women and men is clear: more collective agreements and strong works councils". The state of Saxony must also act as a role model as an employer. "That's not the case everywhere, especially with a view to the same career opportunities for women and men. The glass ceiling still sends greetings in the public sector, too."
