German public workers: 6.3 pct raise over 2 years Associated Press Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 05:12 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 BERLIN (AP) — Some 2 million German public-sector employees are to get a pay rise totaling 6.3 percent over two years, employers and a union said Saturday after marathon talks that followed disruptive walkouts in recent weeks. Ver.di argued that public-sector workers deserve a significant increase after showing relative restraint in recent years, and after two years of strong economic growth. [...] the government pointed to slowing growth — Germany's economy, Europe's biggest, contracted slightly in last year's final quarter though it is expected to start growing again this spring. The IG Metall industrial union is seeking a 6.5 percent raise for workers in the key manufacturing sector.