German Union Sounds Alarm
Politics

German Union Sounds Alarm

Concerns are mounting over proposals to alter the status of civil servants in Germany, with the German Civil Servants’ Association issuing a stark warning against potential restrictions.

Volker Geyer, the association’s chairman, highlighted the critical need for a functioning state, pointing to a significant personnel shortage within the public sector. “We need a capable state” Geyer stated in an interview with MDR Aktuell. “We are critically lacking staff across the board”. He described suggested reforms as “completely counterproductive” emphasizing the existing deficit of approximately 570,000 employees within public services.

The association’s response follows a recent proposal by Carsten Linnemann, General Secretary of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Linnemann’s suggestion focuses on restricting the civil servant status to positions involving sovereign responsibilities, such as roles within the police, judiciary, customs and financial administration. Under this proposal, individuals in administrative roles, including teachers, would no longer be eligible for permanent civil servant positions.