Public sector pay - rolling strikes across Germany

As we grapple with the challenge posed by indefinite public sector pay freezes and the proposed break up of national bargaining in the UK, German public sector workers in UNISON's sister union ver.di are using impressive strike tactics to build pressure in support of a 6.5% or minimum €200 a month pay rise. Yesterday, in the latest in a series of 'warning strikes' across all 16 German states, refuse collectors, nursery teachers, bus and rail staff started a week long walk out across the north, primarily in Lower Saxony where 450,000 commuters were affected:  http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/116800