Schwerin (dpa / mv) – With a view to the current wage dispute in the public sector, the CDU parliamentary group in the Schwerin state parliament has warned against excessive wage increases. The spokesman for economic policy, Wolfgang Waldmüller, showed understanding that employees were demanding more money because of inflation. “But I consider demands for double-digit percentage wage increases to be excessive,” he was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday.
He warned of a wage-price spiral. Wage increases well in excess of inflation only fueled it. “At least if productivity does not develop to at least the same extent.” Excessive wage increases could ultimately contribute to higher prices. He also referred to the limits of public budgets.
In the collective bargaining round, the Verdi services union and the civil servants’ association are calling for an increase in income of 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros more. Municipal employers reject this as economically unmanageable. The new collective agreement for the approximately 2.5 million employees in the public sector is to have a term of twelve months. The second round of negotiations in the wage conflict is planned for February 22nd and 23rd in Potsdam. Recently, warning strikes had paralyzed several airports in Germany.
