Society Service Employees' Violence Counteraction Campaign by DGB
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, a concerning trend of increasing violence against public service workers has come to light. This was underscored by a one-day exhibition held on March 31 in the NRW state parliament, titled "Never forget, a human being works here".
The exhibition aimed to raise awareness of the daily violence faced by workers in various public sector professions, not just police, emergency services, and fire departments. School staff, public transport workers, job and public order offices, street cleaners, and hospital staff are also reporting an increase in verbal and physical assaults.
According to the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and Sonja Bongers, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament and the Chair of the SPD city council faction, these attacks can be attributed to several factors. These include a shortage of people for these jobs, increased workloads, and unattractive salaries. The high number of attacks last year, totalling around 9,600, according to DGB's report and criminal statistics, represents a ten-year high.
The exhibition featured a presentation by DGB NRW on the topic of increasing violence against public servants. It was part of a broader effort to address and combat the issue, with Bongers supporting the event. The purpose of the exhibition was to highlight the daily violence against workers in public service, not just those in the traditionally high-risk roles of police, emergency services, and fire departments.
In recent times, NRW has seen a rise in sabotage and aggressive actions targeting public infrastructure and employees. An example of this is the arson attacks on a key rail line between Düsseldorf and Duisburg, which disrupted daily commuter connections and was attributed to politically motivated sabotage. Such hostile actions contribute to unsafe working conditions for public service workers in NRW.
While the search results do not provide specific statistics on violence against public service workers in NRW, the regional context reveals heightened tensions reflected in sabotage incidents and law enforcement concerns. Violence against workers, including police officers who face confrontations and injuries during such disruptions, remains a critical issue. The introduction of Tasers in German police forces, including NRW, underscores efforts to improve safety amid increasing violence, though concerns persist over their use and associated fatalities in various regions of Germany.
In conclusion, the rising violence against public service workers in NRW is a significant concern. The exhibition was a step towards addressing this issue, aiming to raise awareness and combat the daily violence faced by workers in various public sector professions. The trend of increasing violence, as evidenced by the high number of attacks last year, underscores the need for continued efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of these essential workers.
- The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and Sonja Bongers, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, are advocating for improvements in workplace wellness and health-and-wellness initiatives for public service workers in NRW.
- The one-day exhibition, "Never forget, a human being works here", focuses on the intersection of science and social issues, addressing the rising violence against public service workers in NRW and its impact on their health-and-wellness.
