Care Strike in Heidelberg – Rally to mark ‘Care Day’

On 7 June, the newly formed group Care Streik Heidelberg organised a rally and ran an information stand on Bismarckplatz in the city centre. In its press release, the group states:

“Our society cannot function without mutual care. From childhood right through to old age, we find ourselves in caring relationships – sometimes others look after us, sometimes we look after others. That is why we need to talk about how we can organise care collectively, without it disappearing into the private sphere,” explains Lara Wollert, an activist with the group. For the group’s members, the term encompasses not only paid work in the care sector, but also private, unpaid care work.

The group criticises the current governing style of the CDU and SPD and the associated cuts to social spending. Wollert adds: “We have to fight for every cent in the statutory health insurance system, yet our government is funding future wars with a smile.” The activist is commenting on developments in the healthcare sector over the past few weeks.

Wollert emphasises that “Care-Streik Heidelberg” is part of a Germany-wide network of groups focusing on care. The unifying factor: a potential care strike in 2027. “We do not want to stand idly by and watch as care continues to be rendered invisible. That is why we are reclaiming our power to act and building pressure – as care recipients and care providers!”
The movement has been inspired by a similar strike in Switzerland. There, too, people are calling for a nationwide care strike in 2027.

Care Streik Heidelberg has the following to say about this care strike:

If we look out for one another, organise our lives together and share resources and facilities, we can ensure that everyone is looked after and supported without having to work long hours. Human relationships are at the heart of such an alternative.

With the Care Strike, we want to fight for a fairer distribution of care work. For better conditions for care relationships and with answers to the question: How do we organise our care work as a shared responsibility and in a way that meets people’s needs – on the day of the strike itself and in the long term? There is a global tradition of major women’s* and care strikes. There is a nationwide feminist strike network that has been championing care work struggles for years. And there are an increasing number of feminist and care groups planning a major strike day in 2027.

If you’re from the area and this has piqued your interest, you can join the group at: carestreik-hd@systemli.org. On Instagram, they’re @carestreikhd.