Branches all over Germany
Verdi calls on Commerzbank employees to go on warning strike
The Commerzbank logo can be seen at a branch within sight of the company headquarters. Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
There is no sign of a solution in the collective bargaining dispute between Verdi and the private banking employers’ association. At Commerzbank there is a strike next week.
Verdi is calling on Commerzbank employees to go on a warning strike next Wednesday. “We want to paralyze Commerzbank from Flensburg to Garmisch-Partenkirchen,” said Stefan Wittmann, Verdi functionary and supervisory board member at Commerzbank, the “Wirtschaftswoche”.
According to the report, the strike will begin on November 10th at midnight and last 24 hours. This Thursday Commerzbank wants to present figures for the third quarter.
The warning strike is part of the collective bargaining dispute between Verdi and the employers’ association of the private banking industry (AGV). The last hearing on October 13th was canceled by Verdi. Negotiator Jan Duschk had already announced warning strikes and criticized that the employers’ side had not given any signals that they wanted to improve their previous offer.
“We reached out, it stays out,” said Carsten Rogge-Strang, General Manager of the Employers’ Association of the Private Banking Industry (AGV), about the current warning strike call. “We look forward to seeing Verdi return to the negotiating table.”
The end of the wage dispute is not in sight
In mid-October and September there had already been individual warning strikes and demonstrations by bank employees, including in Berlin, Hanover, Bremen and Frankfurt – there, employees of the Commerzbank headquarters were also called for warning strikes. Commerzbank itself initially did not want to comment on the new call.
Collective bargaining for public and private banks is currently taking place separately for the first time in years. In the case of public banks, there has recently been an initial convergence, while there is currently not even a new negotiation date for private banks.
Verdi is demanding 4.5 percent more money for the approximately 140,000 employees of private banks and a social component of over 150 euros over a period of twelve months as well as collective bargaining regulations for more flexible working conditions. According to their own statements, employers have offered an increase in collective wages by a total of 3.2 percent in three stages over a period of 36 months.