Thousands of employees quit their jobs in Germany
According to the union statement, mass rallies with wide participation will be held in the country’s largest shopping centers such as Berlin, Hamburg, Dortmund, Wiesbaden, Hanover, Oldenburg and Braunschweig.
Commenting on the decision to strike, Ver.di board member Silke Zimmer accused employers’ unions of “deliberately” slowing down the process.
Zimmer said: “Employers are again pushing the process uphill in this round of negotiations. Therefore, we will increase the pressure on them even more. Those who treat their employees so irresponsibly are jeopardizing the future of this country’s largest private sector business.”
The union has not officially named the companies that will be affected by today’s wave of strikes. Industry officials warned the shutdowns could lead to disruptions on the ground and long lines at stores.
UNION REQUEST
The Ver.di union is demanding a 7 percent wage increase for employees over the 12-month contract period. The union also wants this increase to be reflected in salaries as a basic increase of at least €225 per month.
The employers’ wing recently introduced a revised two-year package across all states. The proposal calls for gradual wage increases of 2.4 percent starting in November and 2 percent starting in August 2027.
The union leadership categorically rejected this latest proposal from the employers, considering it insufficient to combat inflation.
According to industry data provided by Ver.di, around 5.2 million people are employed in trade and retail throughout Germany.
