Cottbus collective bargaining: breakthrough for 2,350 employees!

Cottbus collective bargaining: breakthrough for 2,350 employees!

Cottbus, Deutschland - On July 10, 2025, there was great news in Cottbus: The collective bargaining at the Medical University of Lausitz-Carl Thiem (MUC-CT) has been successfully completed. This agreement brings a significant improvement in working conditions for around 2,350 non -medical employees and 570 trainees, such as [Cityreport] (https://cityreport.pnr24-online.de/ditte-handlungs-reunde-be-- an- der-Medizinische-universitaet-lausitz-Carl-thiem-am-10-juli-2025-in-cottbus/) reported.

After a turbulent negotiation phase that began on May 21, 2025, the last talks have led to a breakthrough today. The previously submitted tariff proposal of the MUC-CT was vehemently rejected by the ver.di union because it was left behind the expectations and the usual collective agreement for the public service. A nurse with 15 years of professional experience alone should have accepted a salary difference of around 4,230 euros compared to TVöD.

tangible improvements for the employees

Today, however, the employees can breathe a sigh of relief. According to Radio Cottbus, the remuneration will be increased to 99 % of the current TVöD tariff from July 2025, with a further increase from August 2026. 7 %. In addition, the weekly working time is reduced to 38.5 hours.

Another positive aspect is the introduction of additional allowances - including for shift and changing services as well as for practice instructors. The trainees also benefit from the agreement: from April 2025 you will receive a monthly increase of 75 euros and a further increase in May 2026.

The negotiations took place in a constructive climate, which is not always a matter of course in this industry. In addition to the written fixation of the agreement, there is also an additional vacation day from 2027.

The big picture in view

This tariff degree takes place in the context of comprehensive changes in the MUC-CT. Since the takeover of the Carl Thiem Cottbus Clinic in July 2024, medical care in the region has been up to a new level. The establishment of the university medicine in Lausitz should be completed by the winter semester 2026/27, and the total costs amount to around 3.7 billion euros, with the federal government bearing more than half of it. These new structures may not be managed with the same tariffs as before, which is why the agreement for the employees and prospective specialists is of crucial importance.

To complete the image, it should be noted that the remuneration for hospital services was increased by 6 % from January 1, 2025, which represents a positive step in this direction. There were also progress in the collective bargaining for the doctors in municipal hospitals: these were made by the VKA and the Marburger Bund Approached and will also bring further improvements in the coming months.

Today shows once again: colleague and colleague, together we are strong! The agreement on the MUC-CT will also serve as an example for other facilities and shows that committed collective bargaining will pay off.