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German Unions Set 7% Pay Demand for State Workers as Länder Talks Begin Dec. 3

Union leaders say higher pay is needed to keep state employers competitive.

Overview

  • Verdi and the dbb formally adopted a claim of a 7% wage increase with at least €300 more per month for about 1.2 million state employees excluding Hesse.
  • The unions propose a 12-month contract term and want any settlement mirrored for roughly 1.3 million civil servants, with knock-on effects cited for about one million pensioners.
  • Bargaining opens in Berlin on 3 December, with follow-up rounds scheduled for 15–16 January and 11–13 February 2026 in Potsdam.
  • Verdi chair Frank Werneke argues the raise is necessary to keep public service roles attractive in a tight labor market.
  • The demand exceeds April’s federal and municipal deal of 5.8% with a €110 monthly minimum through 2027, and the Länder employers have not presented a counteroffer.