- Action: State-wide warning strikes by Verdi and GEW in Thüringen, Sachsen, and Sachsen-Anhalt.
- Participation: Around 1,000 participants at the central rally in Jena.
- Affected Sectors: State authorities, universities, Kindergartens of the Studierendenwerk, and the Universitätsklinikum Jena (UKJ).
- Demands: 7% pay increase, at least 300 euros monthly.
- Outlook: Continuation of collective bargaining today, Wednesday, in Potsdam.
Jena (11.02.2026) – Pressure is mounting in the collective bargaining process: On Tuesday, Jena’s city center was temporarily transformed into a sea of whistles and flags. The service union Verdi and the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW) called for extensive warning strikes to emphasize their demands in the current round of state-level negotiations. The impact was clearly felt throughout the city.
A Sign of Strength: 1,000 Strikers on the Streets
According to the unions, around 1,000 state employees in Thüringen alone followed the call to strike. The focus of the protest was clearly in Jena. Here, employees from various sectors gathered for a central rally to demonstrate for better working conditions and fair pay. The message to the employer side was unmistakable: Without a significantly improved offer, public service will remain disruptive.
Large parts of the public infrastructure were affected. In addition to employees from schools, after-school care centers (Horte), and universities, educators from the kindergartens of the Studierendenwerk also stopped work. For many parents in Jena, this meant organizing alternative care at short notice—a logistical challenge in the middle of the work week.
Traffic Chaos and Emergency Operations at the Hospital
As expected, the demonstration marches through the Jena city center led to significant traffic disruptions. Particularly in the Saalestadt, which often operates at its traffic limits due to its topography, closures and the slow-moving protest march caused traffic jams and delays in local public transport. Commuters and drivers needed a great deal of patience on Tuesday morning.
The situation at the Universitätsklinikum Jena (UKJ) was particularly sensitive. Employees here also joined the warning strike to draw attention to the burdens in the healthcare sector. Despite the walkout, patient safety remained the top priority. As the hospital announced, the care of emergencies and life-saving treatments was guaranteed at all times through emergency service agreements. Nevertheless, delays and restrictions occurred in regular operations.
Background: The Demands in Detail
The labor dispute is part of a cross-state strategy. Massive walkouts also occurred in Sachsen and Sachsen-Anhalt, including at the Uniklinik Leipzig and in Halle. The background is the sluggish collective bargaining for the public service of the German states.
The unions Verdi and GEW specifically demand:
- A salary increase of seven percent.
- A minimum increase of 300 euros per month to protect lower-income groups from inflation.
- Improvements in working conditions, such as adjusted working time regulations.
The employer side, represented by the Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL), has sharply criticized the strike measures so far, referring to previously presented key points which were rejected by the unions as insufficient.
Looking to Potsdam: Agreement or Escalation?
After yesterday’s show of strength, all eyes are on Potsdam today. The negotiating partners are meeting there this Wednesday for the next round. The unions hope that the high strike participation in central Germany has built enough pressure to force a negotiable offer. Should this round also end without a rapprochement, further and possibly more extensive strikes threaten in the coming weeks, which could once again severely affect public life in Jena.
We will keep you informed about the results of the negotiations.