Updated on February 18, 2025 - The ongoing tariff negotiations for public service employees in Germany have reached an impasse, prompting unions to announce a series of warning strikes across the country.

The trade unions Verdi and dbb are currently negotiating on behalf of over 2.5 million workers employed by federal and municipal governments.

As of the latest negotiations, no proposals have been received from employers, leading to widespread discontent among public sector workers.

Verdi leader Frank Werneke indicated that further industrial action is to be expected in the coming days, impacting services such as kindergartens, local transport, and waste collection.

During a press conference in Potsdam, Werneke stated, "We are prepared for a broader escalation of our actions this week." The situation has become increasingly urgent, as workers await a response to their demands for improved pay and working conditions.

Volker Geyer, the negotiating representative of the dbb union, underscored the determination of the unions to intensify their actions, stating, "In the next three weeks, we will organize warning strikes and protest actions everywhere in the country.

Clearly, we need to apply pressure to overcome the employers' current intransigence."

Specific details regarding the planned protests and strike actions have yet to be disclosed by either Verdi or the dbb.

The backdrop of these developments is the forthcoming federal elections, which may influence the dynamics of the ongoing negotiations.

The ramifications of these strikes are expected to be felt not only by public sector employees but also by the general public, who rely on essential services impacted by the actions of striking workers.