Public sector strikes end in Germany

Two major, long-running disputes in the German public sector have been settled.

Unions representing public sector workers at regional level secured an agreement over working time at the end of May, and last month also saw a deal for doctors in university clinics, who had been on strike since March.

Unions had begun strike action as early as February in protest at regional authorities’ plans to extend the working week from 38.5 hours to 40 or more. While the new deal allows for longer hours, these do not apply to all staff and not to the extent the employers had demanded (see LRD’s Workplace Report magazine, June 2006).

The doctors’ dispute was settled when the Marburger Bund, which represents most doctors, accepted a new pay offer and also won its demand to have a separate agreement from the rest of the public sector.

Doctors will now get substantial pay increases, with newly qualified doctors on €3,600 a month (about £2,500) in their first year.