Tariff dispute
Warning strikes at the Postbank
The Verdi union has called on Postbank employees to go on a warning strike. photo
© Marijan Murat/dpa
Verdi is demanding longer protection against dismissal and higher salaries from Postbank. A solution to the wage dispute does not seem to be in sight – the warning strike is intended to increase the pressure.
The Verdi union leaves the collective bargaining dispute with the Postbank not loose. After two days of nationwide warning strikes, including in Postbank branches, employees in the processing of banking transactions (back office) have been called to stop work since this morning, as Verdi announced. The employees in the back office have been exposed to severe stress in recent months during the transition from Postbank’s IT to that of Deutsche Bank, said Verdi negotiator Jan Duscheck. “That’s precisely why we’re finally expecting a negotiation offer that takes this fact into account and includes fair salary increases.”
Around 4,500 employees at various locations have been called on warning strikes in the coming days up to and including Thursday. According to Verdi, the strikes are likely to have a noticeable impact on the processing of customer concerns nationwide on the various days of the strike. This included activities such as opening checking accounts or paying out loans.
Verdi is demanding 15.5 percent more money for around 12,000 employees in the Deutsche Bank Group with a Postbank collective agreement, but at least an increase in salaries of 600 euros. The German Bank Employees Association (DBV) wants to raise 14.5 percent more money for employees of Postbank, Postbank branch sales, PCC Services and BCB.
A ballot is being prepared
After the third unsuccessful round of negotiations, Verdi threatened to gradually expand industrial action and also prepare for the strike vote. “If the employers want to avoid this escalation, they must significantly improve their offer by the next negotiation date on April 16th,” said Duscheck.
Due to the announcement of branch closures, Verdi is also pushing to secure jobs in the long term by extending protection against dismissal until December 31, 2028. Deutsche Bank wants to close up to 250 of the 550 Postbank branches by mid-2026 and also cut staff. Shortly before Christmas, Deutsche Bank promised that it would not lay off employees for operational reasons in its private customer bank in Germany until the end of September of the current year.