The Verdi union has called on retail workers nationwide to go on warning strikes on Friday. “This is just the first of several strike and action highlights in the coming weeks,” the union said on Thursday. There will be promotions at Edeka this Friday.
The current round of collective bargaining in retail has been going on for months. Even numerous warning strikes, for example right before Christmas, could not change the messy situation. The warning strikes have so far had little impact on customers because participation was rather low. Verdi is demanding, among other things, at least 2.50 euros more per hour in retail in all regions and a term of one year. Depending on the federal state, there are additional requirements. Top-level talks at the federal level have not brought any progress recently.
Verdi accuses the employers of blocking the negotiations. The collective bargaining manager of the German Trade Association, Steven Haarke, objected: “The employers’ offer would have led to real real wage increases.” The employers presented an offer in the first round of negotiations over ten months ago and improved it several times. Verdi, on the other hand, did not move. That leads to a dead end. “The trading companies have been proving for many months that they can cope with the strikes.”
According to Verdi, several weeks of action will follow until Easter. “We want to specifically focus on the blockers in the employer camp. This week we are starting with Edeka. To do this, actions are taking place in front of warehouses and branches,” announced Verdi representative Silke Zimmer. The union is also planning several strike rallies at Edeka on Friday, including in Hamburg, Cologne and Chemnitz.