Salary explosion in public law: resentment about top earners!

Salary explosion in public law: resentment about top earners!

The recent salary adjustments caused a sensation on public broadcast. At the beginning of the year, the NDR and SWR increased the salaries of their non -tariff employees by 4.71 percent. A further increase of 1.23 percent is planned for 2026. This increase in salary is related to the takeover of the latest tariff conclusion, whereby salaries of the management level are generally not regulated in collaboration. Critics criticize the high top salaries on public service broadcasting. SWR director Kai Gniffke does not receive a salary increase and remains at 392,530 euros. In contrast, NDR director Joachim Knuth benefits from the increased remuneration. This adaptation is justified as part of a new salary structure by the collective agreement, which does not meet all of all.

The criticism of the salary increases is particularly loud from circles that question the need for radio fees. SWR and the unions have achieved a tariff conclusion in a long process of eleven months accompanied by strikes. The German Association of Journalists (DJV) describes this conclusion as a signaling for other ARD institutions, even if it is not regarded as a "dream result". The tariff increases for SWR employees amount to a total of around six percent, spread over two stages. The term of the new contract is 25 months.

tariff increase and effects on the employees

For medium and lower tariff groups, the special annual special payment is increased, the increase can be up to ten percent. Voluntaries and trainees also benefit from higher remuneration. The tariff increase takes place in two steps: 4.7 percent from December 2024 and 1.2 percent from January 2026. It is particularly worth mentioning that free employees also benefit from the same amount. The SWR employs around 3,600 permanent employees and around 1,800 free employees who are directly affected by these measures.

The SWR produces programs for Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate and carried out a total of eleven warning strikes during the collective bargaining. The SWR is managed by Jan Büttner, who emphasizes that the conclusion respects the interests of the employees and at the same time is considering economic constraints. ARD houses are currently under the savings pressure of the countries that work on a reform of the radio.

radio contribution and future challenges

Another uncertainty concerns the amount of the broadcasting contribution in the coming year, since the KEF recommends an increase from currently 18.36 euros to 18.94 euros. However, not all federal states support this planned increase, which leads to an additional area of tension in the debate about the financing of public service broadcasting.