The Association of Civil Servants emphasized: "We must prevent real wage losses and need sustainable inflation compensation." But employers are not willing to do that. "The negotiations have failed." With regard to possible strikes, Silberbach said: "We have shown in the last few weeks that we are ready to fight if we have to."

The federal government and local authorities, as well as the Verdi services union and the civil servants' association, had been trying to find a compromise since Monday in the third and last agreed collective bargaining round. The Verdi services union and the civil servants' association are demanding 10.5 percent more wages over a period of twelve months, but at least 500 euros more per month. This went much too far for the employers.