Verdi wants to extend warning strikes for the Christmas season
Consumers in Thuringia are facing increased strike-related restrictions on their Christmas shopping. The trade union Verdi wants to extend its warning strikes in the retail sector during the Advent season, as the trade union secretary for retail, Matthias Adorf, said. "There will be no Christmas truce." The impact could be particularly noticeable in the food retail sector if the union strikes at warehouse locations. "What can't be delivered can't be sold."
However, Adorf also conceded that collective bargaining coverage and therefore the possibility of warning strikes in the sector had recently shrunk considerably. In addition to the large food chains, only individual brands such as Ikea, H&M, Media Markt Saturn and Zara are still covered by collective agreements. There is almost no collective bargaining coverage at all at the large textile companies.
Since the beginning of June, there have been 49 days of strikes in at least one company in Thuringia, continued Adorf. Around 500 employees had taken part in the warning strikes at a total of 26 companies. There had also been almost 30 demonstrations. He had never experienced such a long dispute before.
Verdi is demanding an increase of 2.50 euros per hour for a period of one year, which according to the union means an increase of around 15 percent. The employers had recently put an offer of ten percent more money on the table. A new negotiation date for Thuringia is not yet planned.
The ongoing strikes initiated by Verdi union could lead to significant disruptions in the food retail sector during the Christmas shopping season, as they plan to extend their warning strikes in the retail sector. The lack of collective bargaining coverage in the large textile companies might exempt them from these strikes, potentially leading to less impact on those sectors.
Source: www.dpa.com
