- 📅 Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
- 📍 Location: Jena (Central Rally)
- 👥 Participants: Public sector employees from across Thüringen
- 📢 Demand: 7 percent wage increase
- 🛑 Status: Warning strike to increase bargaining pressure
Jena. The streets of Jena became the scene of one of the largest labor actions of the year in Thüringen yesterday, Tuesday. Employees from across the Freistaat traveled to the Saalestadt to emphasize their demands in the current collective bargaining round for the public sector. With whistles, posters, and banners, the unions made it clear that they are prepared to take to the streets for their goals.
A Strong Signal from the Heart of Thüringen
The warning strike, called by several unions, deliberately focused on Jena as the central assembly point. The choice of location highlights the city’s importance as an economic and administrative center, as well as a transport hub where the impact of such actions is particularly felt.
At the core of the dispute is a clear financial demand: employees are calling for a seven percent pay increase. This figure was not chosen arbitrarily but is a response to the economic conditions of recent years. The unions argue that real wage losses caused by inflation must be offset to secure the purchasing power of employees. Especially in the lower and middle-income groups, many employees are feeling the pinch due to the increased cost of living.
Background: Who is Actually Striking?
The term “Public Sector” often sounds abstract, but the effects of such a strike affect the daily lives of almost all citizens. The occupational groups that took to the streets in Jena yesterday or stopped working typically include:
- Employees of the city administration and Bürgerämter
- Educators in municipal Kitas
- Waste collection and city cleaning staff
- Public transport employees
- Nursing staff in municipal facilities
When these wheels come to a standstill, the entire city community feels it. Warning strikes are a common tool at this stage of collective bargaining. They serve as a “warning shot” to the employer side to bring movement to stalled negotiations. Observers see the fact that the number of participants in Jena increased significantly due to the influx from other regions of Thüringen as a sign of high mobilization readiness within the workforce.
What Happens Next?
With yesterday’s action, the unions have played the ball back into the employers’ court. The central question in the coming days will be whether the employer side presents a negotiable offer that comes close to the seven percent demand, or whether fronts harden. If there is no rapprochement in the next round of negotiations, further, potentially longer strikes could follow. For citizens in Jena and Thüringen, this means keeping a close eye on the latest news regarding the bargaining round to prepare for possible restrictions in public life.
We will keep you updated on further developments in the collective bargaining round.