Germany and labor unions start challenging negotiations on public-sector wages

In Germany, trade unions and employer representatives have commenced collective bargaining talks concerning public-sector workers across most federal states, despite apparent major disagreements. The discussions aim not only to counter inflation but also to secure tangible wage growth, stated Verdi union leader Frank Werneke just before Wednesday's session in Berlin.

The negotiations involve the Verdi and civil servants' union dbb, who are meeting with the TdL association, representing Germanys federal states. Unions are demanding a 7% salary increase, or a minimum of 300 ($348) per month for public-sector staff. Hamburgs Finance Senator Andreas Dressel, representing TdL, dismissed the request as excessive.

Meanwhile, dbb chair Volker Geyer emphasized the hope for productive dialogue but warned that if employers fail to engage and present an offer, pressure may need to escalate. "In that case, strikes could occur across various sectors, such as road maintenance, state police personnel, university hospitals, or financial administration," Geyer noted.

Three negotiation rounds are scheduled, with the third planned for February 11-13 in Potsdam. Verdi estimates that roughly 925,000 public-sector employees and 1.3 million civil servants are affected by these discussions.

Author: Riley Thompson