Goethe University Frankfurt and the unions ver.di and GEW reached an agreement on a new labor agreement for the university (TV-G-U) on April 21, 2026. In addition to adopting the collective bargaining agreement negotiated for employees of the state of Hesse, the agreement includes several unique provisions, some of which are new, designed to benefit employees and trainees.
The collective bargaining agreement foresees a 3 percent rise or alternatively an increase of at least €110 in the salaries of Goethe University employees effective July 2026, in line with other state employees in Hesse. In October 2027, salaries will rise by an additional 2.8 percent. Apprentices will receive a fixed increase of €80 in July 2026 and an additional €70 in October 2027. Starting in July 2026, student assistants will earn €15.33 per hour if they do not have a bachelor’s degree and €16.62 per hour with a bachelor’s degree. Beginning in October 2027, hourly pay for assistants without a bachelor’s degree will increase to €15.90, and to €17.08 for those with a bachelor’s degree.
The eligibility for the LandesTicket Hessen, which provides free public transportation for university employees, will be extended through December 31, 2028. Goethe University will continue to provide a monthly allowance of €100 for employees serving as trainers without a training certificate and €200 for those with a training certificate. A new benefit allows apprentices to take one paid study day per calendar year to prepare for exams. The agreement also stipulates that employees working in teaching can now advance to higher pay groups 14 and 15 under certain conditions, as is already the case for those working in research. Additionally, the existing option for employees to reduce their annual special payment in exchange for two extra days of compensatory time off will be extended through the end of 2028.
Dr. Ulrich Breuer, Head of Goethe University’s administration and member of its Executive Board, is pleased with the outcome: “Despite significant cost pressures and substantial cuts to our funding from the state, we are able to present the university’s staff with a truly positive result. Beyond adopting the collective bargaining agreement for Hesse, the training allowance and the study day for trainees reaffirm our commitment to being an attractive training institution. This is important to ensure we can continue to attract skilled professionals in the future.” In accordance with the decisions made by the Executive Board, the Head of Administration oversees the university’s budgetary, personnel, and legal matters.
“I am very pleased that this agreement has been reached,” added University President Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff. “For me, being a good employer also means advancing equal opportunities, diversity, and internationality, fostering a healthy work environment, and promoting a culture of transparent communication — goals we pursue through the specialist strategies we have adopted for this purpose. Fair and transparent working and career conditions are more than a commitment to us; they enhance the university’s overall quality. We need skilled and dedicated employees to carry out innovative and creative research, teaching, and engagement with society.”
The collective bargaining agreement is subject to approval by the university’s governing bodies and will take effect once this approval is granted, no later than June 10, 2026.
