German Unions Seek 10.5% Pay Increase for Public-Sector Workers

  • Talks cover 2.5 million employees and civil servants
  • Tight labor market, inflation are fueling robust wage demands

The talks cover as many as 2.5 million employees and civil servants of the country’s provinces.

Photographer: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
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German public-sector workers are demanding a pay rise of 10.5% for 12 months — kicking off a new round of negotiations seeking to recoup income lost to the fastest inflation in decades.

The talks cover as many as 2.5 million employees and civil servants of the country’s provinces in areas including the justice system, tax authorities, universities and childcare.