Another nationwide warning strike in retail
The trade union Verdi has once again called for a nationwide, decentralized warning strike on Friday. Actions are planned in both retail and wholesale, the union announced. Consumers are therefore likely to have to wait longer at the checkouts. Due to previous strikes, there have been repeated gaps on supermarket shelves. Customers will also have to be prepared for this these days.
Verdi's call for strike action 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. "The aim of the meeting is to reach an agreement on a new, effective negotiation format," the association said. Until then, the trade associations see no point in further rounds of negotiations at state level.
Negotiations in the retail sector actually take place at country level in all 16 countries - separately for wholesale and retail. The employers have rejected this format for the time being with their proposal for top-level talks.
"Anyone who cancels negotiations is provoking strikes during the Christmas season," said Verdi representative Silke Zimmerer. "Because canceling all negotiation dates in the retail sector is a declaration of war on the employees and their voluntary bargaining committees."
The negotiations in the federal states affect millions of employees. Among other things, Verdi is demanding at least 2.50 euros more per hour in the retail sector in all regions and a duration of one year. Depending on the federal state, there are further demands.
- The German Retail Association has proposed a top-level meeting of social partners at federal level to make progress in negotiations, as they believe this could lead to a new, effective negotiation format.
- The ongoing negotiations in the retail sector, which take place at country level in all 16 countries, have been stuck for months, and the employers have rejected the current format with their proposal for top-level talks.
- Verdi, the trade union, has opposed the employers' proposal for top-level talks, arguing that cancelling all negotiation dates is a declaration of war on employees and their bargaining committees, which could potentially lead to strikes during the Christmas season.
- The implementation of Verdi's demands, such as a higher hourly wage of at least 2.50 euros in the retail sector and a duration of one year, could potentially lead to increased prices for consumers due to the impact of tariffs and strikes on retail trade.
Source: www.dpa.com
