Overview

• Unions demand an 8% wage increase or at least €350 per month, citing inflation and real wage losses, while employers offered a 5.5% increase over three years, which unions rejected.
• The mediation process, led by Roland Koch (CDU) and Hans-Henning Lühr (SPD), imposes a 'peace obligation,' halting strikes until a recommendation is delivered by early April.
• Union representatives criticize Koch's appointment, pointing to his history of privatization policies and perceived anti-union stance, raising concerns about impartiality.
• Employers argue that meeting union demands would impose an annual cost increase of 11% on municipalities, which they deem financially unsustainable.
• If mediation fails to produce an agreement, unions may escalate to indefinite strikes after early April, leaving the outcome uncertain.