BERLIN (AP) \u2014 German government officials and labor unions have reached a pay deal for more than 2.5 million public-sector workers, ending a lengthy dispute and heading off the possibility of disruptive all-out strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ver.di union had pressed for hefty raises as Germany, like many other countries, grapples with high inflation. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said as the deal was announced around midnight Sunday that \u201cwe accommodated the unions as far as we could responsibly do in a difficult budget situation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal entails tax-free one-time payments totaling 3,000 euros ($3,300) per employee, with the first 1,240 euros coming in June and monthly payments of 220 euros following until February. In March, regular monthly pay for all will be increased by 200 euros, followed by a salary increase of 5.5% \u2014 with a minimum raise of 340 euros per month assured. The deal runs through to the end of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ver.di originally sought a one-year deal with a raise of 10.5%. The deal was reached on the basis of a\u00a0proposal by arbitrators\u00a0who were called in after talks broke down last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ver.di chair Frank Werneke said that \u201cwe went to our pain threshold with the decision to make this compromise.\u201d He said that the raises in regular pay next year will amount to an increase of over 11% for most employees of federal and municipal governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union has staged frequent walkouts over recent months to underline its demands, with local transport, hospitals and other public services hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany\u2019s annual inflation rate has declined from the levels it reached late last year but is still high. It stood at 7.4% in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The past few months have seen plenty of other tense pay negotiations in Europe\u2019s biggest economy, some of which have yet to be concluded. In a joint show of strength, ver.di and the EVG union \u2014 which represents many railway workers \u2014 staged a\u00a0one-day strike last month\u00a0that paralyzed much of the country\u2019s transport network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EVG, whose members\u00a0walked off the job\u00a0again on Friday, is seeking a 12% raise and has rejected the idea of negotiating a deal based on the arbitration proposal that helped resolve the public workers\u2019 dispute. The next round of talks is set for Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And ver.di is still in a dispute with Germany\u2019s airport security companies association over pay and conditions for security staff. In the latest of a string of walkouts, it has called on security workers at Berlin Airport to walk out on Monday. The airport says there will no departures all day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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