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Here’s your quick update on what’s happening around the city on Thursday, November 20 - from urgent alerts to stories in the subreddit. Today we went through 144 sources so you don't have to.
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🇩🇪 Civil service: verdict passed - civil servant pay in Berlin unconstitutional for years
Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the pay of many Berlin civil servants was largely unconstitutional between 2008 and 2020. The decision fits a broader pattern of pay disputes in the public sector. The court and higher administrative courts have repeatedly criticized Berlin’s remuneration since at least 2015. Germany’s top court now says about 95 % of Berlin’s salary groups from 2008 to 2020 breached constitutional standards, and Berlin must fix the system by 31 March 2027. (Tagesspiegel)
At the core of the ruling lies the alimentation principle in Article 33(5) of the Basic Law. It obliges the state to guarantee civil servants and their families a livelihood appropriate to their office. According to the court’s criteria, entry‑level pay must be at least 15 % above basic social security and reach at least 80 % of median household income. (n-tv)
The ruling underlines how underpaying officials threatens state capacity and public trust, especially in a city already struggling to fill key posts. Courts and unions across Germany now invoke the same benchmarks, as dozens of procedures from other states and more than 300 individual lawsuits seek corrections to allegedly unconstitutional pay scales. (Deutschlandfunk)
⚡ Quick Hits
🇩🇪 These routes in Brandenburg and Berlin will be discontinued in 2026! | Effective December 14, 2025, the Deutschlandticket will no longer be valid on specific IC and ICE routes in Berlin and Brandenburg due to overcrowding. Affected connections include Berlin Hbf–Elsterwerda, Potsdam Hbf–Cottbus, and Berlin Südkreuz–Prenzlau. Additionally, the ticket price will rise to €63 per month in 2026.
🇬🇧 Could the German government collapse over pensions dispute? | Germany’s fragile coalition is locked in a high‑stakes fight over how to fund a rapidly aging population’s pensions. A costly SPD‑backed pledge to keep benefits high beyond 2031 alarms conservative youth lawmakers, who could overturn the deal. With only a 12‑seat majority, even a small revolt could paralyze legislation and destabilize Merz’s government.
🇩🇪 At 1.43 a.m., masked soldiers storm a Berlin subway station | The late-night drill is part of a five-day Bundeswehr exercise called “Bollwerk Bärlin.” The Wachbataillon, which usually handles ceremonial duties, is training for urban combat and government protection in a potential conflict with Russia. The unit practices hostage rescue, casualty evacuation, and movement through the U-Bahn under realistic city conditions.
🇩🇪 State-owned companies invest in climate protection | The new climate pact commits Berlin’s state-owned companies to help cut citywide CO₂ emissions 70 percent by 2030. The Senate expects investments worth several billion euros. A major example is the 204 million euros earmarked for the Berlin pool operator, with about 168 million euros going into basic or partial energy-efficiency renovations.
🇩🇪 Checks at Berlin train stations: Police seize more than 250 knives despite ban | Federal police checked 10,723 people at 15 Berlin stations and seized 561 weapons, including more than 250 knives, despite a temporary carry ban in public transport. Officers recorded 774 additional crimes and nearly 200 violent incidents. They also arrested 62 people with outstanding warrants and logged 836 “wanted” hits, including drug and immigration offenses.
🇩🇪 200 electricity and gas suppliers are cutting prices | Hundreds of regional basic suppliers plan to cut power and gas tariffs in 2026, according to comparison site Verivox. At least three million households benefit, often by several hundred euros a year. Average reductions reach about 9 percent for electricity and 7 percent for gas. Yet alternative contracts can remain cheaper, so a price comparison still pays off.
🇬🇧 Merz urges innovation at Berlin digital summit | Merz and Macron urged Europe to develop its own capabilities in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, quantum tech and microelectronics, warning that the EU lags far behind the US and China. Their push comes as Brussels prepares to ease GDPR and AI rules, reviving tensions between competitiveness, data privacy and the goal of “digital sovereignty.”
📅 Events Today
🎟️ Christmas Fair on Landsberger Allee | November 01 to December 28, 2025 | Free, Wednesday (Family Day) with discounted prices for rides | Colorful lights and mulled wine create a festive atmosphere. Families find fast rides, a Ferris wheel, a children's rollercoaster, and fairground eats (waffles, barbecue) for cozy, adrenaline-filled winter fun.
🎟️ Rejazz Festival | November 20 - 22, 2025 | One-day ticket €20, reduced €15, festival pass €53, reduced €37 | Female-led bands redefine jazz's spectrum. They fuse chamber, contemporary, experimental and electronic sounds. You will discover bold new voices.
🎟️ This weekend: Advent Market at Ökowerk | November 23, 2025 | Christmas market: free, 20 to 30 euros material costs per wreath | A tranquil, sustainability-first Christmas market invites families to browse organic and fair-trade stalls. Artisans lead hands-on wreath and decoration workshops (natural materials). It offers a cozy, non-commercial holiday vibe.
💬 What Berliners Are Talking About
🗣️ Conny is claiming €2,700 from me - but I never signed anything. Need advice | Renter pressured to pay €2,700 by Conny after vague online consent; advice follows.
🗣️ How to avoid a parking fine while waiting for a resident parking permit? | Practical tips and mixed experiences on hiding permit confirmation to avoid fines.
🗣️ Anyone with an experience with Berlin99 rental agency? | Looking for a quick furnished apartment with registration, community suggests cheaper alternatives.
🏰 Fun Fact: Many Berlin street names (like Wallstraße, Mauerstraße, etc.) trace the city’s old fortifications – they run where Berlin’s city walls and ramparts stood until the 1700s. Several U-Bahn station names (Schlesisches Tor, Kottbusser Tor) also honor former city gates.
👋 That's a wrap!
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