The trade union Verdi has once again called for warning strikes in the ongoing wage negotiations in the retail sector. In Saxony, around 100 employees took part in several central warehouses of food retailers on Thursday morning, as the union announced on request. In Thuringia, warning strikes and a rally are planned for this Friday in Erfurt.
Verdi is demanding seven percent more money for employees, at least 225 euros, for a period of twelve months. Employers in individual federal states such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Hamburg have recently offered a two percent increase in the retail sector from November and a further 1.5 percent from August 2027 - with a term of two years.
The German Retail Association (HDE) does not expect the strike action to have any noticeable impact on customers. The companies are well prepared and the internal processes are well-rehearsed, said Steven Haarke, Managing Director of Collective Bargaining. He appealed to the union to focus on making progress at the negotiating table "instead of relying on calls for strikes and public escalation".
