1. Overview
The latest public service wage talks have stalled after a second, fruitless negotiating round in Potsdam on 16 January 2026. The trade unions Verdi and the German Civil Service Federation (dbb) have announced a large expansion of warning strikes starting the following week to increase pressure on the employers. The unions call for a wage increase of seven percent or at least 300 euros per month to offset inflation and keep public sector jobs competitive.
Unions say the strikes will continue until the final negotiation round scheduled for 11 to 13 February. The planned industrial actions already put roughly 920,000 tariff employees directly at risk and could affect between 2.2 and 3.5 million people overall when civil servants and pension recipients are included.
2. Why unions are expanding warning strikes
Unions argue the requested increase is necessary to compensate for recent inflation, address a growing shortage of skilled workers, and ensure the public sector remains an attractive and competitive employer. dbb leader Volker Geyer warned that demographic realities are hitting the public sector hard and said the unions must escalate pressure: the unions ‘obviously have to increase the pressure and massively expand strike actions’ if talks do not produce results.
Union demands and reasoning
Verdi leader Frank Werneke urged public employees to back the demand for seven percent more pay or at least 300 euros monthly, noting that the Länder had not presented a binding offer despite being asked to do so. The unions view a stronger, coordinated program of warning strikes as a lever to bring employers back to the table with a meaningful proposal.
3. Employers’ response and proposed offer
Representatives of the states, as voiced by finance senators, described the unions’ demands as excessive. Hamburg’s finance senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) framed a counterproposal as an agreement corridor that would include an inflation-related adjustment spread over 29 months, along with targeted improvements for trainees and shift workers.
Reaction to the employer proposal
The unions rejected this offer as insufficient. While Dressel expressed cautious optimism and stressed a sense of shared state responsibility, the gap between the unions’ wage demands and the employers’ counteroffer remains wide, prompting unions to expand warning strikes to raise pressure ahead of the next negotiating round.
4. Sectors and services likely affected
The planned escalation will focus on key parts of the public sector that directly affect citizens’ daily life and public services. Targeted areas include university hospitals, daycare centers in city-states, road construction offices, justice authorities, road clearing services, data centers, tax offices and schools.
- University hospitals: possible postponement of elective surgeries and pressure on emergency services.
- Daycare centers (Kitas): closures or limited care in urban states.
- Road construction and clearance: slower responses and potential delays in maintenance.
- Justice and tax offices: slower processing of cases and paperwork.
- Data centers and IT services: risk of interruptions to public IT systems and processing.
- Schools: disruptions that could affect families, especially during the winter holiday period.
5. Timeline, scale and key figures
The first round of negotiations in December ended without agreement. The second round on 16 January 2026 likewise produced no result. Unions have announced an expanded program of warning strikes starting the week after the Potsdam talks and continuing up to the final bargaining session scheduled for 11–13 February.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Directly affected tariff employees | ~920,000 |
| Estimated total affected (including civil servants and pensioners) | 2.2–3.5 million |
| Union wage demand | 7% or at least €300 per month |
| Final negotiation round | 11–13 February 2026 |
6. What to expect next and practical advice
Expect expanded warning strikes across multiple public services in the weeks leading up to the final bargaining round. Impacts will vary by region and sector, but plan for possible delays in administrative services, changes to school or daycare operations, and disruptions at hospitals for non-urgent procedures—especially during the winter holiday period.
For the public: check local announcements from employers or authorities, allow extra time for appointments, and follow official guidance for health services. For employees in the public sector: stay informed through your union and employer communications about planned actions and rights during warning strikes. For everyone, the key issues at stake include inflation compensation, collective bargaining outcomes, and long-term public sector staffing and service quality.
These developments underline the importance of the collective bargaining process in the public sector. Watch the final round of talks in mid-February for a possible de-escalation if an acceptable agreement is reached, or for continued industrial action if differences remain unresolved.
