Germany’s federal government agrees the salary for the public sector
AdvertisementStrikes in the public sector ended.
After long negotiations, the trade unions and employers have agreed to the Joint Workers Agreement for more than 2.5 million workers in the federal and local public sector after long negotiations.
Union Home Minister Nancy Faser (SPD) welcomed the salary agreement: “We have reached a contract that creates a fair balance in difficult times.
The new joint contract is a sign of respect for workers and their achievements. At the same time, Fazer emphasized that the central government is “subject to the boundaries of the hard budget situation.”
Verdi Head Frank Verneck explained that on behalf of workers, it was not easy to accept the union decision: “In the difficult times it is a difficult decision.”
The basis of the contract is the referee’s decision at the end of March. According to this decision, workers will receive a three percent linear increase from April 1, but at least 110 euros. From May 1, 2026, there will be an increase of 2.8 percent. The 13th month salary should be increased. Under the contract, more shift subsidies were acknowledged.
There will be no new strikes in the next two years
More than 2.5 million public sector workers at federal and local level work in many important areas from management, daytime care and waste collection to local transport and airports. Salary conflict has affected many citizens, a repeated alert attack since January.
The new joint venture is expected to be advanced for 27 months from January 1, 2025. At that time, strike notifications or strikes in this area of the public sector must be questionable.
In the fall, there will be separate negotiations for workers from federal states.
The contract set contains flexible terms relating to work hours and days holidays. There will be an additional holiday from 2027. In addition, most workers can transfer a portion of the 13th monthly salary within a maximum of three days.
Fazer explained, “We are introducing a model, where you can choose more days of time instead of money.” The President of the Education and Science Union (GEW) described this as “one step towards more personal responsibility for work hours.”
Municipal hospitals are subject to special rules: workers, voluntarily temporarily, their working hours can be increased to 42 hours per week.
Workers needed for public service
Verneck stressed that anyone could not be forced to work too much. This is part of the joint bargaining agreement: “Anyone who works will automatically come forward and receive the gift for extra hours.”
The Verdi and TPP Beamdanbond trade unions were on the negotiation schedule on behalf of the employees, while the employers represented the Municipal Employers Association (VKA) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The main negotiators of the Public Employees Union explained: “There is a shortage of 570,000 employees at present. In addition, one third of the active population will be reformed in the next ten years. However, everyone can find themselves in the current contract, Cairy said.
