Following weeks of nationwide strikes, the third round of collective bargaining talks for German public sector workers is set to begin on Friday.
Employers and trade unions will meet in Potsdam, near Berlin, for a three-day negotiation session.
Ahead of the discussions, the civil service union (DBB), which is negotiating alongside the public service trade union (Verdi), warned of a potential breakdown in talks and an escalation of the labour dispute.
The negotiations cover salaries and working conditions for more than 2.5 million employees across various sectors, including administration, childcare, public transport, waste management, and healthcare facilities.
The unions are demanding an 8% pay rise or a minimum increase of €350 (approximately $365) per month, along with three additional days of annual leave.
Elke Hannack, Deputy Chair of the German Trade Union Confederation, stated: “If you want an effective state that is capable of acting, you must not, under any circumstances, cut costs on personnel and modern equipment.”
She further noted that public administration, childcare centres, schools, courts, police forces, and local government offices have been operating under strained conditions for years.
Employers have argued that the demands are too costly but have yet to present a counteroffer. If no agreement is reached, unions may call for further strikes, or arbitration proceedings could be initiated to seek a compromise.
