Massive public-sector strikes hit Lower Saxony and Bremen over wage demands
Public-sector workers in Lower Saxony and Bremen are set to strike after the ver.di union called for widespread walkouts. The action involves around 284,100 employees, including staff at hospitals, universities, and road authorities. The union is pushing for higher wages, better conditions, and stronger job security across the sector. The strikes will cover all public-sector employees under the states’ collective bargaining agreement. In Lower Saxony, this includes workers at two university hospitals, state road construction teams, NPorts, and higher education institutions. Bremen’s staff will join the action as part of the same demand.
The ver.di union has outlined clear pay demands. It wants a 7% monthly wage increase for all 245,100 employees in Lower Saxony and 39,000 in Bremen. Lower-paid groups should receive at least €300 more per month, while early-career professionals are to get an extra €200. The union also insists on permanent contracts after successful training and a minimum hourly wage for student workers under collective agreements. Beyond base pay, the union seeks a 20-percentage-point rise in shift and overtime premiums. It also proposes a 12-month term for the new public-sector pay deal (TV-L). In Bremen, a rally will begin at 9:30 AM with speeches from Sylvia Bühler, Doreen Siebernik, and Nils Winder. A march follows at 10:30 AM, ending with a closing rally at 11:45 AM outside the Senate Finance Authority.
The strikes will disrupt services across hospitals, education, and transport in both states. The union’s demands focus on wage growth, fairer premiums, and job stability for thousands of workers. Negotiations between ver.di and state employers are expected to continue as the walkouts proceed.
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