The public sector in Germany’s states faces mounting pressure as labor union Verdi intensifies its demands ahead of the second round of wage negotiations. Union leader Frank Werneke issued a stark warning on Wednesday, highlighting a volatile atmosphere fueled by chronic staff shortages, unfilled vacancies and escalating workloads for public employees. The situation, he stated, is nearing a breaking point.
The core of Verdi’s grievance lies in the significant disparity experienced by state employees compared to their counterparts in the federal government and municipalities. Data reveals that real wages for state workers have eroded, leaving them demonstrably worse off financially than in 2019. This hardship is particularly jarring given that the states collectively recorded a substantial revenue surplus of 5.2% last year – a figure union representatives are citing to underscore the affordability of their proposals.
Negotiations for the approximately 2.2 million employees within the states’ public sector, including 925,000 subject to collective bargaining agreements, resume Thursday and Friday in Potsdam. Union officials emphasize the urgent need for a “negotiating-worthy offer” from state employers to avert further escalation.
The simmering discontent has already manifested in widespread strike action and protests across numerous states since Monday. Disruptions have impacted institutions crucial to public services, including the University of Münster, theaters and stages in Berlin and university hospitals in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Bonn and Essen.
Verdi’s demands are significant: a 7% salary increase for all employees, with a minimum of €300 monthly uplift specifically aimed at strengthening the lower pay bands. Furthermore, the union is pushing for a €200 monthly wage increase for new recruits, coupled with guarantees of permanent contracts upon successful completion of their training – a crucial measure, according to Verdi, to address the looming crisis of attracting and retaining qualified personnel within the public sector. Critics are questioning whether states can sustainably meet these demands without significant adjustments to budgets and potential cuts in other vital public services, framing the negotiations not just as a wage dispute but as a pivotal moment in defining the future of public employment in Germany.