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Ver.di strikes in March 2023: Inflation compensation through special payments
Photo: BildFunkMV / IMAGO
The earnings of collective bargaining employees once again lagged behind the general price development last year.
The employees paid according to collective agreements received an average of 3.7 percent more money than in the previous year, as the Federal Statistical Office reported on Friday.
However, this was offset by inflation of 5.9 percent.
Despite significant wage increases, 2023 was the third year in a row with significant losses in purchasing power for collective bargaining employees.
In 2022, the ratio was even more unfavorable, with earnings rising by 2.2 percent, compared to inflation of 6.9 percent.
The collectively agreed special payments account for a large part of the current increases in earnings.
Without them, salaries would have only increased by 2.4 percent.
Typically, so-called inflation compensation bonuses were negotiated, which the state exempts from taxes and duties up to an amount of 3,000 euros.
These fixed amounts have greater effects in the lower wage groups.
Unskilled and semi-skilled workers were able to achieve the highest percentage increases.
Broken down by sector, the increases were highest in other economic services (+7.8 percent), in the hospitality industry (+7.1 percent) and in manufacturing (+5.4 percent).
mik/dpa AFX