STORY: 10.5 percent more salary – but at least 500 euros more for a period of twelve months – with these demands the unions go into the collective bargaining for employees in the public sector. And that’s over 2.5 million people, most of whom work for municipal employers. The head of the Verdi service union, Frank Werneke, was self-confident at the start of the talks in Potsdam on Tuesday. There is broad support from employees. “And of course it’s particularly urgent now, because the colleagues are affected by the rising prices. We’re looking at a collective agreement from 2020. Since then, prices have risen by eleven percent. But income in the public sector is only between three and four percent. We have to catch up on that alone in this collective bargaining round. And the prices continue to rise.” Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expects difficult talks. “The demands of the trade unions are high. We have a tight budgetary situation, especially in the municipalities. We will keep a very close eye on that, but that will make the negotiations difficult. However, I am confident that at the negotiating table, together with the trade unions, we will achieve a fair agreement will be reached in the end.” The SPD politician described the public service as the backbone of the state, which rightly expects an appropriate wage policy response to the energy crisis. However, the employers did not make a specific wage offer at the start of the negotiations. The second round is scheduled for February 22nd and 23rd.