GERMANY'S STATE GOVERNMENTS SETTLED A LONG-RUNNING PAY DISPUTE WITH MAJOR TRADE UNIONS FRIDAY, RAISING HOPES FOR A RESUMPTION OF HIGHWAY REPAIRS, TRANSPORT THROUGH SHIPPING LOCKS AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN HALTED BY STRIKES, DPA REPORTED. HARTMUT MOELLRING, REPRESENTING THE STATES, AND FRANK BSIRSKE, HEAD OF THE VERDI TRADE UNION, TOLD REPORTERS IN POTSDAM NEAR BERLIN THAT THEY HAD SETTLED A COMPLEX LABOUR BARGAIN THAT INCLUDES PAY INCREASES AND INCREASES IN WEEKLY WORKING HOURS. WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE PACKAGE, WITH THE BIGGEST TEST EXPECTED TO BE THE REACTION OF SALARIED DOCTORS AT TEACHING HOSPITALS, WHO ARE COVERED BY THE CONTRACT BUT ARE MOUNTING STRIKES OF THEIR OWN FOR EVEN BIGGER RISES. STRIKES IN GERMANY'S PUBLIC SERVICES BEGAN 14 WEEKS AGO, HAMPERING HUNDREDS OF SERVICES THAT RANGED FROM TAR-SEALING REPAIRS ON GERMANY'S AUTOBAHNS TO DRIVER-LICENCE TESTING. THE DISPUTE DID NOT AFFECT WORKERS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES, WHO REACHED A WAGE BARGAIN LAST YEAR. WORKERS WERE UPSET AT PLANS TO INCREASE WEEKLY WORKING HOURS. BSIRSKE SAID UNIONS AGREED TO AN AVERAGE OF 39.22 HOURS WEEKLY FOR NEWLY HIRED OR TRANSFERRED WORKERS, BUT THE WORKING WEEK OF 38.5 HOURS WOULD BE RETAINED FOR THOSE IN CURRENT EMPLOYMENT.
