Bremen's 41-hour workweek for civil servants sparks fierce union backlash

Trade unions slam Bremen's plan to extend civil servants' hours, calling it a 'misguided' quick fix. Will longer shifts solve budget woes—or break morale?

, and Administrator

2026 April 24 . 6:03 PM

1 min read

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Bremen's 41-hour workweek for civil servants sparks fierce union backlash

Bremen's State Parliament Approves 41-Hour Workweek for Civil Servants—Union Slams Decision

Bremen's state parliament has now approved the introduction of a 41-hour workweek for civil servants. The ver.di Bremen-North Lower Saxony district has sharply criticized the move.

"This decision sends the wrong signal to public sector employees. Once again, budget consolidation is being pushed through at the expense of civil servants—we firmly reject this," declared Markus Westermann, ver.di's regional manager for Bremen-North Lower Saxony. He argued that the measure is yet another example of structural budgetary issues being resolved not through sustainable solutions but by shifting the burden onto workers.

Gaps and Solutions

Many civil servants are already working at their limits, Westermann noted. A blanket increase in working hours without a viable plan for relief or efficiency improvements will only worsen the situation. "Restructuring workflows, reorganizing systems—these changes take time but ultimately achieve far greater fiscal consolidation," he said. He called on the Senate: "Stop patching holes—present sustainable solutions instead."