The ver.di union has announced warning strikes in retail in several federal states. Work will stop in many places on Friday. That day is “Black Friday,” which is important for retail.
Before a meeting between representatives of the ver.di union and the HDE trade association in the afternoon, the signs point to strikes in several federal states.
In Berlin and Brandenburg, the union called for a four-day warning strike starting on Friday, the state association announced. The reason given was that the employers in the district would have to return to the negotiating table and present a negotiable offer.
Plans for strikes are also underway in North Rhine-Westphalia: a ver.di spokeswoman had announced that there would also be a strike in the state on Friday.
Sixth round of negotiations failed in Hesse
In Hesse, a sixth round of negotiations failed at the beginning of November – here too, work in the retail sector will be suspended, ver.di had announced. Six percent more money in 2023 and four percent next year would not compensate for the losses in purchasing power, it was said at the beginning of the month.
Collective bargaining has been deadlocked for months. That is why the HDE called for a top-level discussion. The reason given was that the discussions in the collective bargaining districts had not resulted in an agreement and that ver.di had not put any proposed solutions on the table.
Ver.di said it was ready for the meeting. However, the union is calling for negotiations and collective bargaining solutions in the individual retail bargaining districts. The employers had assured that “top-level talks do not replace regional collective bargaining,” the union said. During the collective bargaining round, Ver.di called on employees to protest and threatened strikes during the Christmas business.
Train drivers and university clinics also on strike?
There are also signs of a strike in the dispute between Deutsche Bahn and the train drivers’ union (GDL). Before the second round of negotiations, the train drivers reiterated their main demand for a reduction in working hours with full wage compensation. The railway rejected the claim again.
At the same time, ver.di called for two-day warning strikes nationwide in the healthcare sector: On Thursday and Friday, employees of all university hospitals where the state collective agreement applies should stop working.
Ver.di is calling for an income increase of 10.5 percent, but at least 500 euros, for public sector employees in the federal states. In addition, it requires a minimum contract term of twelve months and permanent employment of trainees. They should also receive 200 euros more in wages. The negotiations will continue on December 7th and 8th in Potsdam.