Germany Government Officials Wages And Salaries

The German government froze the salaries of its own members Wednesday and refused to make a new pay offer to striking public employees, who were joined in industrial action by more than 130,000 metal workers. The government acknowledged that public sector strikes are beginning to bite, but it stood firm on its offer of a 4.8% pay raise and said the 9.5% demanded by the public service union OeTV is unacceptable.

The German government froze the salaries of its own members Wednesday and refused to make a new pay offer to striking public employees, who were joined in industrial action by more than 130,000 metal workers. The government acknowledged that public sector strikes are beginning to bite, but it stood firm on its offer of a 4.8% pay raise and said the 9.5% demanded by the public service union OeTV is unacceptable.

East German politicians now folded into the unified Parliament and Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Cabinet will be earning salaries undreamed of under communism. There are 144 former East German deputies in Parliament--which began its real work in Bonn on Friday after the ceremonial opening in Berlin--and five Cabinet members. Parliament members get basic pay of 14,938 deutsche marks a month, which at current exchange rates is equivalent to $9,763.

East German politicians now folded into the unified Parliament and Chancellor Helmut Kohl's Cabinet will be earning salaries undreamed of under communism. There are 144 former East German deputies in Parliament--which began its real work in Bonn on Friday after the ceremonial opening in Berlin--and five Cabinet members. Parliament members get basic pay of 14,938 deutsche marks a month, which at current exchange rates is equivalent to $9,763.