1300 employees in the NRW retail sector walk off the job
According to trade unions, 1300 people in North Rhine-Westphalia took part in warning strikes in the wage dispute in the retail sector on Friday. Fashion retailers, electronics stores and furniture suppliers from the retail sector were affected, according to Verdi in Düsseldorf. In wholesale and foreign trade, employees stopped work at the warehouses of supermarket chains.
The warning strikes were localized and their proportion of the total number of employees was low. According to Verdi, around 517,000 employees subject to social insurance contributions work in the retail sector and 306,000 in wholesale and foreign trade.
Verdi's call for the strike is also a response to the demands of the German Retail Association for a top-level meeting of the social partners at federal level in order to make progress in the negotiations, which have been stuck for months. Negotiations in the retail sector actually take place at state level in all 16 states - separately for wholesale and retail. The employers have rejected this format for the time being with their proposal for top-level talks.
Verdi, on the other hand, is in favor of continuing the regional negotiations. They are still willing to negotiate, said Henrike Eickholt, head of the regional division. "It is now up to the employers to resume negotiations." Central negotiations are "not an option for us". Strike action would be extended. They are also prepared to work towards a fair wage agreement during the Christmas period. Verdi is demanding 2.50 euros more salary and wages per hour with a one-year collective agreement. This is too much for the companies.
The trade unions argue that high tariffs on imported goods could potentially increase prices for consumers, further exacerbating the situation in the retail sector. The German Retail Association has proposed top-level meetings to progress negotiations, but trade unions like Verdi prefer to continue with regional negotiations.
Source: www.dpa.com
