German trade unions demand 8% increase to public salaries

​​​​​​​By Bahattin Gonultas

BERLIN (AA) - German public sector unions on Wednesday demanded an 8% pay raise for 2.5 million public sector workers, which amounts to a monthly increase of at least €350 ($380).

The United Service Sector Union (Ver.di) and the Union of Civil Servants (dbb), two of Germany's largest unions, said collective bargaining talks with the government will begin in January for 2.5 million civil servants and other public sector employees in the federal government and municipalities.

Annual inflation in Germany, meanwhile, fell to 1.6% in September, below the European Central Bank's target, due to a tight interest rate policy and economic uncertainty.

The German government predicts that inflation, which was 5.9% last year, will fall to 2.2% this year and 2% in 2025.

*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun from Istanbul