Tariffs - Warning strikes in retail hit Christmas business
Christmas shopping this Advent weekend could be difficult in some areas due to another Verdi warning strike in the retail sector in Berlin and Brandenburg. Verdi announced on Thursday that customers could expect empty shelves as some warehouses will also be on strike, meaning that goods will not be replenished.
Employees in the retail sector and in some wholesale companies in Berlin and Brandenburg have been called out on a four-day warning strike starting this Friday. The focus will be on Edeka, Rewe and Kaufland, a Verdi spokesperson said on Thursday. However, other companies such as fashion stores and electronics stores are also affected by the work stoppages.
A rally of employees is planned for Friday morning in Berlin (10.45 a.m., at Arnimplatz). The union is expecting around 1000 participants. This is already the sixth warning strike in the long-smouldering wage dispute. Negotiations in the retail sector have been stuck for months. Verdi is demanding, among other things, at least 2.50 euros more per hour in all regions in the retail sector and a duration of one year. Depending on the federal state, there are further demands.
"If companies continue to refuse to return to the negotiating table with a realistic offer, they will lose even more employees and further fuel the shortage of skilled workers. We need a deal now, before Christmas," said Verdi negotiator Conny Weißbach.
The employers accused Verdi of not striving for a quick solution, but instead sticking to its maximum demands. The employers' offer would lead to a wage increase of 10.24 percent over the proposed 24-month period, according to the HDE trade association. "You have to be aware of what is currently on the table as an offer. This is historic for the industry," said Steven Haarke, Managing Director of HDE.
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- Despite the ongoing warning strike, some retail stores in Berlin and Brandenburg, such as kaufland and Rewe, are preparing to offer discounts and promotions during the Advent weekend to attract customers.
- The United Services Union (Verdi) has also highlighted the impact of tariffs on the retail sector, arguing that higher costs could lead to price increases for consumers during the Christmas business.
- The work stoppage has forced Edeka, Rewe, and Kaufland to adjust their inventory and distribution strategies to minimize the disruption to their customers during the festive season.
- Berlin-based fashion retailer Zalando, which is not part of the sector-wide strike, has announced that it will continue to operate normally during the Advent weekend, offering online shopping and home delivery services.
- The Berlin city administration has expressed concern about the potential impact of the work stoppage on local businesses and has called on both parties to find a resolution before the busy Christmas period.
- Some Berlin residents who support the union's demands have expressed anger at the retailers for not offering better wages and working conditions to their employees during the Christmas business, with some planning to boycott certain stores as a form of protest.
Source: www.stern.de
