Warning strikes at daycare centers began in numerous federal states on Tuesday.
Rallies are also planned in many cities during the day.
The service union Verdi called on educators and social workers nationwide for International Women's Day on Tuesday to go on warning strikes and protest rallies.
Some emergency care is set up.
With the warning strikes, Verdi wants to increase the pressure on municipal employers in the current collective bargaining round for social services.
The collective bargaining was actually planned for spring 2020, but was put on hold after the start of the corona pandemic.
Verdi is not demanding a percentage wage increase for the approximately 330,000 employees affected, but rather higher classifications of social professions in the salary brackets.
Municipal employers argue that educators already earn better than comparable professions.
Verdi accuses the employers' association VKA of not being accommodating in the talks.
Two rounds of talks are currently planned.
According to the current status, the probably decisive one should take place on May 16th and 17th in Potsdam.
"International Women's Day is perfect to strike after the first round of negotiations was a complete disappointment," stressed Verdi.