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German State Pay Talks Enter Final Stretch as Unions Weigh Wider Warning Strikes

Talks in Potsdam on 11–13 February will show if selective concessions can close the gap.

Overview

  • Unions led by Verdi are demanding 7% or at least €300 a month, plus €200 for trainees, higher time supplements and a 12‑month term.
  • Länder negotiator Andreas Dressel calls the package excessive and cites lower inflation, while signaling openness on trainee and shift‑work issues.
  • Roughly 2.2 million people could be affected, including more than 900,000 state employees directly and about 1.3 million civil servants if results are transferred by law.
  • Expanded warning strikes in the coming weeks remain possible as unions seek leverage across universities, university hospitals, schools and justice services.
  • State‑level work stoppages tend to be less disruptive than municipal strikes, though actions could still hit clinics, campuses and winter road services.