Union and government negotiators say they've reached a new wage agreement that will give more than a million public servants in Germany a nearly 8 percent pay increase over 33 months. The deal, announced just before midnight Saturday, comes after disruptive short-term strikes by teachers and others designed to put pressure on the government. The ver.di union says teachers, police, emergency workers and other public servants will first get a 3.2-percent raise retroactive to Jan. 1. Next Jan. 1, a 3.2 percent increase will follow, and then a 1.4 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2021. The agreement is also expected to be extended to 2.3 million additional government employees represented by other unions, which is common German practice.

Source: Fox News March 03, 2019 11:37 UTC