German public sector workers will receive a bonus of 1.300 euros next year due to the pandemic and a 2,8 percent higher salary.

More than a million public sector workers in the German states will receive a tax-free bonus by March next year at the latest.

The deal follows a strike threat by workers at university hospitals, kindergartens, schools and police stations. Negotiations lasted all weekend, until early Monday morning.

Verdi union president Frank Werneke said the deal was fair.

Negotiations began in late summer. The unions demanded a pay rise of at least 150 euros a month, or about 300 per cent. They demanded XNUMX euros higher salaries for health workers.

This was unrealistic for the states due to the already high costs of health, economy and local government due to the pandemic.