On the one hand Germany has five million unemployed and on the other the employers want to prolong the working week for those newly employed.

There could not have been a more decisive outcome of this ballot or a more decisive vote in favor a strike.

We are continuing this fight in order to reach a solution at the negotiation table.

We could not have had a clearer result in the strike ballot.

Public workers are saying 'it's enough' - they won't take any more cuts or burdens.

I give them one year to realize their initial reforms weren't radical enough to get Germany back up and running, and then a year after that to implement sweeping change. If they don't get immediate results after that, the only thing holding them together will be a mutual fear of the radical politics preparing to take power from them.