Lawsuit of the Marburger Federation: University Hospital Greifswald under pressure!

Lawsuit of the Marburger Federation: University Hospital Greifswald under pressure!

The hat is burning in the university clinics in Germany: The Marburg Bund has filed a lawsuit against Unimedizin Greifswald. The reason for the legal dispute are massive violations of the regulations on the acquisition of work, which have been in force since January 1, 2025. These regulations provide for an electronic recording of working hours for doctors. According to the Marburg Confederation, however, most universities do not adhere to these requirements, which leads to significant overtime, which often remain free of charge. Lars Grabenkamp, Managing Director of the Marburg Federation in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, criticizes the pressure that employers exercise on the doctors in order not to document overtime properly. More and more doctors are not being taken seriously in their work and see the regulations as a mere farce.

The current situation is alarming, because according to a survey by the Marburg federal government, more than 80 % of the 3,500 respondents indicate not to use an automatic cake clock. Around 60 % report of up to ten working hours per week that are not recorded. "In total, this can make up to 500 unpaid hours a year," warns Dr. Susanne Johna, 1st Chair of the Marburg Confederation. In the meantime, the university hospital Rostock and Greifswald are optimistic and claimed to comply with the collective agreement. In this way, Unimedizin Rostock captures overtime separately and processes it electronically, while Unimedizin Greifswald indicates a system for electrical working time recording.

The problem of manual recording

But reality looks different: the current system with manual submission of working hours is criticized as inadequate and manipulable. An automated system for working time recording is urgently necessary, says Dr. Matthias Heu buyer, senior physician in Greifswald. In fact, only 17 % of the respondents document their working hours compliant and electronically. The rest fall back on roster programs or, if necessary, to Excel, which not only makes time recording time -consuming for many doctors, but also prone to errors. An Excel template for the work time recording can help, but it does not solve the fundamental problem of non-compliance with collective bargaining requirements.

The lawsuit against Unimedicine Greifswald aims to create a precedent, and the Stralsund labor court will decide how the collective agreement should be interpreted. From 2026, the collective agreement also provides for a reduction in the weekly working hours from currently 42 to 40 hours. In the meantime, the demand for better working conditions and higher wages for doctors at university hospitals remains a central topic.

conclusion and outlook

The grievances in the time of work at the university clinics are unsustainable. The pressure on the doctors and the lack of a transparent time recording not only endanger the health of medical professionals, but also patient care. The Marburger Bund urges changes that not only appreciate the work of the doctors, but also determine it in terms of regulatory. The coming months will show whether the courts can pave the way for a fairer system that takes into account the daily challenges in the clinics.