German public-sector unions threaten strikes over 7% wage demand

Millions of workers could walk out if talks collapse. Unions say current wages are driving labor shortages—and they won’t settle for just inflation adjustments.

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2026 January 3 . 11:12 PM

1 min read

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German public-sector unions threaten strikes over 7% wage demand

Public-sector unions in Germany are pushing for higher wages in ongoing negotiations. Verdi leader Frank Werneke has warned that employers must present a realistic offer by mid-January. Without progress, he suggested strikes could follow, affecting some 2.2 million workers across the country.

Hesse remains the only state not taking part in these talks.

The Verdi union and the civil service federation are demanding a 7% pay rise or at least €300 more per month for employees. Werneke argued that current wages are too low, leaving hundreds of thousands of public-sector jobs unfilled. He also stressed that workers expect more than just inflation compensation—they want real improvements in purchasing power.

Werneke believes higher wages could help lift the economy out of its current slump. But he cautioned that reaching a deal in the third round of talks in February may prove difficult if employers do not engage seriously. The scale of any future protests or strikes, he added, would depend entirely on the outcome of the upcoming negotiations. Employers in these discussions typically include the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL) or federal and state representatives. However, no specific names of negotiators have been confirmed for this round.

The next round of talks is set for mid-January. If no agreement is reached, unions have signalled possible industrial action. A resolution would impact millions of public-sector workers, excluding those in Hesse.