The head of Germany’s largest civil service union, the dbb beamtenbund und tarifunion, has dismissed as “populist nonsense” recent proposals to include public sector employees in the statutory pension scheme. Volker Geyer, who assumed the role of dbb federal chairman in 2025, made the statement to the news agency AFP on February 12, 2026.
Geyer argued that incorporating civil servants into the statutory pension system would not address any of the existing problems facing the scheme. He contended that such a move would not relieve pressure on pension funds but would instead increase the burden on taxpayers, as a larger contributor base would ultimately lead to higher future pension payouts.
The debate was sparked by a recent resolution from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) federal executive board, advocating for an expansion of mandatory pension insurance to include not only civil servants but also self-employed individuals and mandate holders. The SPD’s stated goal is to stabilize the statutory pension insurance system.
Currently, civil servant pensions are funded directly by the state. Calls for a change to this system have been ongoing for some time, though previous attempts to alter the arrangement have faced significant opposition. Geyer’s comments represent the latest salvo in this long-running debate.
Volker Geyer succeeded Ulrich Silberbach as federal chairman of the dbb on June 23, 2025, following Silberbach’s resignation for health reasons. Geyer had previously served as the dbb’s deputy federal chairman and head of tariff policy from 2017 to 2025. Prior to that, he led the DPVKOM communications union from 2007 to 2017. He began his career as a postal worker in Franken.
The dbb, a federation of trade unions representing civil servants and public sector employees, is a significant force in German labor relations. The organization’s position is likely to be a key factor in upcoming discussions regarding pension reform. As of February 13, 2026, the German government has not responded to Geyer’s criticism.
