The service union Verdi has called for protests against planned cuts to disability support services. Verdi announced on Monday that the rights of people with disabilities are acutely threatened by the proposed reduction plans. Sylvia Bühler, a member of the Verdi national executive board, stated that implementing cuts for the most vulnerable people constitutes a social policy bankruptcy.
The protests stem from a list of reduction proposals compiled by several federal ministries, state governments, and local peak associations. According to a document released by the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, these proposed cuts include eliminating the individualized school support for children and adolescents with disabilities and restricting the right of these individuals to live in their own homes. Furthermore, the plans question the refinancing of collective bargaining increases and the requirements for using specialized staff.
Rebecca Liebig, another member of the Verdi national executive board, pointed out that the planned reductions affect more than just people with disabilities; they also impact children and adolescents. For instance, the state of Saxony proposes that unaccompanied minors aged 16 and over should no longer be housed in suitable child and youth welfare facilities, but instead placed in initial reception centers.
In response, Verdi plans to organize a photo demonstration in several cities, including Marburg and Bremen, on Tuesday. The demonstration will use the motto “Austerity Policy Cripples” to draw attention to the consequences of the discussed cuts.
