The ver.di union called for warning strikes in retail shortly before the holidays. Supermarket chains such as Lidl and Kaufland are affected. The consequences for buyers are likely to be manageable.
Shortly before Easter, the ver.di union called on retail and wholesale workers to go on warning strikes. On Maundy Thursday today, the union plans to focus in particular on supermarket chains such as Lidl and Kaufland.
Nationwide, strikes were called in several hundred Schwarz Group companies, to which the two chains belong, as a ver.di spokesman announced. Branches and warehouses are affected, among other things. But warning strikes could also occur at other trading companies. In previous weeks of action, Edeka and Rewe had already gone on strike.
Trade prepared for strikes
The industrial action has so far resulted in a few empty shelves, but there have been no store closures for the most part. Steven Haarke, collective bargaining manager of the German Trade Association (HDE), does not expect any significant effects on customers as a result of the strike. “Trading companies have proven in recent months that they can handle strikes well,” he said. The industry had prepared well for Easter business and had already proven before Christmas that it could cope with strikes.
A spokeswoman for Kaufland said about the warning strikes: “The branches are open normally and deliveries are being made. Consumers can shop as usual.” Lidl was not immediately available for a statement. The Thursday before the long Easter weekend is a particularly important sales day for retailers in Germany. The HDE expects sales of 2.2 billion euros for the entire Easter business. The result is based on a representative survey of around 1,000 consumers.
Collective bargaining negotiations in trade are stalling
Collective bargaining for the approximately five million retail workers has made little progress for months. Even numerous warning strikes could not change the messy situation. Ver.di demands, among other things, at least 2.50 euros more per hour in retail in all regions and a term of one year. Ver.di said that the trading companies continued to refuse negotiations and tried to weaken the willingness to strike with unilateral wage increases.
“As employers, we presented an offer in the first round of negotiations in Baden-Württemberg almost a year ago and improved it three more times during the further course of the collective bargaining round,” said HDE collective bargaining manager Haarke. This offer would have led to real real wage increases, especially since inflation was falling.
Easter business helps trade
German retail has recently started to feel the scent of dawn again. The barometer for assessing the current business situation rose to minus 7.3 points in March, after minus 18.1 points in February, as the Munich ifo Institute announced today in its company survey. Business expectations also improved significantly. “The pessimism that prevailed recently is declining,” said ifo expert Patrick Höppner, commenting on the development. “The Easter business was apparently a bright spot for many retailers.” The bottom line is that only as few retailers are planning price increases in the next few months as three years ago.
Hardware and DIY stores, bicycle dealers and clothing retailers assess the business situation more positively than in the previous month. Things were also looking up for food retailers. “Retailers can rely on Easter business, especially when it comes to confectionery,” said Höppner.
Recently, some trading companies, including the Schwarz Group based in Neckarsulm in Baden-Württemberg, announced that they would increase the wages of their employees. The food retailers followed a recommendation from the HDE to voluntarily increase wages before an official collective bargaining agreement and to later offset this against the collective bargaining agreement.