Warnstreiks im Handel: Verdi fordert höhere Löhne in Tarifverhandlungen

Warning Strikes in Retail and Wholesale

The union Verdi has announced nationwide warning strikes in retail during the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. Both retail companies and wholesale businesses across all federal states are affected. Large strike rallies are planned in several cities, including Kiel on Thursday and Erfurt, Berlin, Bochum, and Saarbrücken on Friday.

Employer Offers Rejected

In the latest rounds of negotiations, employers in some federal states presented wage offers that were rejected by Verdi as insufficient. Silke Zimmer, a board member of the union, described the offers as „simply outrageous.“ Despite the economically solid situation of retail corporations, employees are being offered wage cuts, which she criticized as „an absolute disgrace.“ With the strikes, Verdi aims to exert pressure on employers to receive a negotiable offer.

Previous Warning Strikes Show Mobilization

As early as mid-May, Verdi called for the first nationwide warning strikes, which saw participation from over 5,000 employees. More than 200 locations, including well-known chains like Edeka, Kaufland, Douglas, H&M, and Ikea, were affected. This mobilization demonstrates the union’s potential to rally employees and highlight the urgency of wage negotiations.

Overview of Demands and Offers

Verdi demands a wage increase of seven percent or at least 225 euros for a duration of twelve months. In some federal states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg, employers have made an offer that includes a two percent increase starting in November and a further 1.5 percent increase starting in August 2027, but with a duration of two years.

Challenges for the Industry

The German Retail Association (HDE) expressed concern about the negotiations, emphasizing that there is „hardly any room“ for wage increases given the difficult economic conditions. This statement raises questions about the long-term competitiveness of the industry and could also impact Germany’s attractiveness as a business location.

Employment in Retail

According to Verdi, around 5.2 million people are employed in retail in Germany, with 3.4 million in the retail sector. Previous collective bargaining negotiations stretched over more than a year and resulted in an income increase of about 14 percent for the years 2023 to 2025. Nevertheless, the collective bargaining coverage in the industry has been declining for years, which weakens the bargaining position of the unions and could impair Germany’s attractiveness for investors.