Tariff dispute: agreement or strike? Important round for public service

Trade unions and employers in public service have been fighting and working hours since January, there have been warning strikes in daycare centers or clinics, at airports or at the garbage disposal – today in Potsdam the decisive round for the more than 2.5 million employees at the federal government and the municipalities.

The basis for negotiation is a simple proposal. If there is no solution this time either, trade unionists could initiate a pre -vote on permanent strikes.

The tariff discussions were declared failed in mid -March after the third round and an arbitration was initiated. Thereupon the commission staffed with trade unionists and employer representatives, chaired by Roland Koch (CDU) and Henning Lühr (SPD), developed a compromise. The experts in the arbitration committee were reportedly approved by a large majority. Now it is about whether the collective bargaining parties go, renegotiate – or still divide.

The arbitrators suggest lifting the income into two stages. From April 1, 2025, the fees are expected to increase by three percent, but at least 110 euros a month. As of May 1, 2026, there should be another 2.8 percent more. 27 months are recommended as a term of the new collective agreement.

The proposed package of the arbitrators includes several other details. The annual special payment is to be increased from 2026. In addition, employees outside of clinics and nursing homes should be given the opportunity to exchange parts of the annual special payment for free days. From 2027, according to the proposal, they should get another vacation day.

From 2026 the possibility is to be created to voluntarily increase the weekly working hours to up to 42 hours. Furthermore, the arbitrators recommend improving the regulations on long -term accounts, at a flap period and working hours of emergency services.

From July 1, 2025, allowances for shift work are to be raised to 100 euros and for the change of change to 200 euros. Different working conditions in the tariff areas East and West are to be adjusted to the federal government. The municipalities should modernize the grouping for midwives and childbirth nurse.

Originally higher demands

The unions originally demanded Verdi and DBB civil servants’ association eight percent more money, but at least 350 euros more a month, as well as at least three additional days of free days a year. This described the employer side as not affordable. For them, the association of the municipal employers’ associations VKA and the Federal Ministry of the Interior negotiates.

In the third round of negotiations, employers said that an increase in the fees by 5.5 percent and a higher 13th monthly salary and higher layer allowances offered. The term remained open. That was not enough for the unions. Ultimately, the employer called the arbitration because the unions would have moved too little.