The blow in the state sector came to an end.
A large salary, an additional day of rest and a more flexible working time: after long negotiations, trade unions and employers agreed with a collective labor agreement for more than 2.5 million employees in the federal and local public sector.
The Federal Minister of the acting interior Nance Faeser (SPD) welcomed the wage agreement and said: “We have reached an agreement that creates a fair balance in difficult times. We make working conditions in the public sector more flexible, modern and attractive. ”
The new collective agreement is a sign of respect for employees and their achievements. At the same time, Fasher emphasized that the federal government “was to the limit of what was responsible in a difficult budget situation.”
The head of Verdi Frank Vernek explained on behalf of the employees that the trade union is not easy to accept the result: “This is a difficult result in difficult times.”
The basis for the agreement is the decision of the judge at the end of March. According to this decision, employees will receive a linear increase by three percent from April 1, but with at least 110 euros. From May 1, 2026, it will increase by 2.8 percent. The 13th monthly salary should be increased. According to the agreement, subsidies with a higher shift were also agreed.
There will be no new blows in the next two years
More than 2.5 million employees of the public sector at the federal and local levels work in numerous important areas, from management, daily care and collection of waste to local transport and airports. The conflict of wages affected many citizens, as repeated warning blows from January.
It is expected that the new collective agreement will be retroactively from January 1, 2025 for 27 months. At that time, Strike shall notify or impacts in this part of the public sector should not interrogate.
In the fall, separate negotiations for workers from federal states will be held.
The package of agreements also includes more flexible rules regarding working time and weekends. From 2027 there will be an additional day of rest. In addition, most employees will be able to convert part of the 13th month of wage within a maximum of three days of vacation.
Feier explained: “We present a model where time instead of money can be chosen for more weekends.” Mike Finnern, president of the Union of Education and Science (GEW), called this “a step to greater personal responsibility for working hours.”
Municipal hospitals are subject to special rules: workers can, voluntarily and temporarily increase their working time to 42 hours a week.
Public service needs employees
No one can be forced to work anymore, Vernek emphasized. This is part of the collective agreement: “Anyone who works will voluntarily receive a prize in extra hours.”
Verdi and DBB Beamtenbund trade unions were at the negotiation table on behalf of the employees, while employers were presented by the Association of Municipal Employers (VKA) and the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
The main negotiator of the Association of civil servants, Heyer, explained: “At present there is a shortage of 570,000 employees. In addition, another third of the active population will reform in the next ten years. To make the public service more attractive, it is necessary to continue to significantly improve wages and working conditions. ” However, everyone may be in the current agreement, Heyer said.