Tariff dispute - Retail: Strikes despite new negotiation date
Despite a new negotiation date, the Verdi trade union intends to stick to the announced warning strikes in the wage dispute in the retail sector. "The current nationwide strikes this week until Christmas Eve remain unaffected by the negotiation date in Hamburg," Verdi announced. "They will continue as planned."
The leading retail association had previously announced that it would attempt to reach a new agreement on December 28 after more than 60 unsuccessful bargaining rounds in the various bargaining areas and an inconclusive summit meeting.
"It is good that the employers have accepted our proposed date and want to come back to the negotiating table this year. After all, if you don't talk, you can't find a solution," said Corinna Groß, head of the federal retail sector group at the Verdi federal executive board.
"What is not so good is that they are blatantly threatening us that this is the last chance for an agreement," added Groß. A deal would only be possible with a further improved offer. "We will not accept any collective bargaining dictates! We are therefore now assuming that the employers will move and hope that we can reach an agreement for the employees in the Hanseatic city."
The German Retail Association(HDE) described the date as the "last chance for an agreement this year". The wage dispute in the retail sector has been going on for many months - repeatedly accompanied by strike action by the union. Among other things, Verdi is demanding at least 2.50 euros more per hour in all regions in the retail sector and a one-year wage agreement. Depending on the federal state, further demands are also being made. At the end of November, representatives met at a top-level meeting at federal level, which ultimately did not lead to any progress.
Deadline until the end of the month
According to the HDE, the negotiations should be based on the offer that was last improved in November. According to this, the employers are offering a total wage increase of 10.24% over the proposed 24-month term. The offer also includes an inflation adjustment bonus of 750 euros and a collectively agreed minimum wage. "This offer is only guaranteed until December 31, 2023," reads an ultimatum from the employers.
The employers' side accuses the union of merely repeating its initial demands, which meant average pay increases of around 15 percent for twelve months. "In the past months of collective bargaining, Verdi has raised its members' expectations too high," said Steven Haarke, Managing Director of HDE collective bargaining. "The gap between this and what retail companies can afford financially in view of the general consumer restraint is therefore too large."
According to HDE, the offer contains all the components needed for a short-term wage agreement, which is increasingly being confirmed by the workforce and even by members of the Verdi negotiating committees. "The background to this is certainly also the growing concern that negotiations will take place under new auspices in the new year," says Haarke. "Employees are aware that some companies will be looking for their own solutions, that 2023 could remain unresolved in terms of collective bargaining policy and that the current offer will no longer be available in this form due to falling inflation."
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- The Union United Services Union, similar to Verdi, may also consider a warning strike in other sectors, as the retail trade is not the only one experiencing collective bargaining disputes.
- During saint's eve, shoppers in Germany might face disruptions at local supermarkets due to the ongoing wage dispute and strikes.
- The German public, shopping for Christmas gifts, is urged to consider the impact of the tariff dispute and potential strikes on their preferred retail stores.
- The Union Verdi's wage dispute in the retail sector, already affecting the holiday season, may continue to escalate, causing concern among shoppers who plan to purchase gifts in the days leading up to Christmas.
- The German Retailers Association, or HDE, has criticized the Union Verdi for its demands, stating that the proposed wage increase could lead to increased tariffs, which could affect the competitiveness of retail markets in Germany.
- The ongoing warning strike in the retail trade sector is putting pressure on employers, who fear that the holiday season, with its increased demand for gifts, could be negatively impacted by the strikes.
- Hamburg, a major city in Germany, is one of the places where the wage dispute is causing the most disruption, with many supermarkets and retail stores closed due to the strikes.
- According to Verdi, the employers' reluctance to meet their demands could ultimately lead to a longer-term wage agreement, which could affect the retail sector in Germany for years to come.
- The Union Verdi and the employers are locked in a complex collective bargaining dispute, with each side warning of further strikes and disruptions if their demands are not met.
- Berlin, as the capital city of Germany, has also been affected by the warning strike, with many retailers and supermarkets experiencing disruptions and potential closures during the Christmas shopping period.
Source: www.stern.de
