The ver.di union has threatened retail strikes before and after Christmas if there is no breakthrough in the collective bargaining dispute. The employers’ offer was “completely inadequate”. An agreement is currently not foreseeable.
Christmas business could be marred by retail strikes. If there is no breakthrough in the current negotiations in the federal states, the union will increase its pressure in the coming weeks, ver.di boss Frank Werneke told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”.
“We are ready to negotiate,” emphasized the union boss. “If the employers are not and there is no agreement, the strikes will continue during the Christmas and post-Christmas business.”
Employers would try to “impose a collective bargaining agreement,” said Werneke. “They present a completely inadequate offer that we are asked to sign, and they refuse to negotiate. I have rarely experienced such disrespectful behavior towards their own employees and their union. Apparently they are playing for time.”
Werneke: “Not enough front and back”
Among other things, Ver.di is demanding 2.50 euros more hourly wages in retail and mail order, and in wholesale and foreign trade the union is demanding 13 percent more wages, but at least 400 euros per month. The term should be twelve months. Employers are offering wage increases of around ten percent over a period of two years. Ver.di boss Werneke rejected this.
“According to the offer from employers in the retail sector for 2023, for example, a salesperson would only receive 1.04 euros more per hour, which is far too little,” he told the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. In addition, a large number of employees would have to work part-time due to a lack of full-time positions available. “Then, given the price increases in the last two years, it’s not enough,” said Werneke. “We don’t get along like that, we won’t accept dictates from employers.”