Germany - 8.74% more pay for highway workers - February 28, 2026

Following intensive negotiations and multiple strikes, some of which were nationwide, the ver.di union has reached a collective agreement with Autobahn GmbH, the Federal Government's highway company. In the third round of negotiations the union and the employer agreed on significant wage and salary increases for the approximately 14,000 employees. Shift and alternating shift allowances will also be raised to the level of the collective agreement for the federal public sector. Salaries will increase in three stages. Salaries will increase by 3.4%, but by at least € 150, on 1 May 2026. A second increase of 2.4% percent, but by at least € 120, will follow on 1 January 2027. On 1 January 2028, employees will receive a third increase of 2%, but at least € 90. Since the minimum amounts have a greater percentage impact in the lower wage brackets, the total increase amounts to 8.74%.

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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.