The Verdi union does not want to accept one-off payments as a replacement for real wage increases in the tariff tables in the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations in retail. The union is referring, among other things, to the relief bonus recently decided by the federal government, under which employers can pay their employees up to 1,000 euros tax-free.
In principle, this measure should be viewed positively, said Verdi federal board member Silke Zimmer. However, such an option was used very differently by retailers during the Corona crisis. Many did not pay out the bonus at all or only paid it out in the form of a goods voucher for employees. That is why the union rejects such one-off payments instead of pay increases that are reflected in the table.
Employers criticize the relief bonus
Criticism of the premium decided by the federal government as a possible relief for consumers also came from retailers themselves. “Relieving the burden on citizens due to external factors is a purely governmental task and is simply passed on to companies, which in turn are also massively affected by the cost increases through no fault of their own, for example for energy,” said the general manager of the German Trade Association (HDE), Stefan Genth.
Collective bargaining in wholesale and foreign trade as well as in retail is beginning these days in several federal states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg and Bavaria. Verdi is demanding, among other things, seven percent more money and a term of twelve months for around 5.2 million employees. However, the requirements differ in the individual federal states.
Where and when are negotiations taking place
The first hearing dates are in April in the following districts:
- 17.4. – North Rhine-Westphalia, 1st round
- 17.4. – Baden-Württemberg, 1st round
- 20.4. – Hamburg, 1st round
- 27.4. – Rhineland Rheinhessen, 1st round
- 29.4. – Bayern, 1st round
- 29.4. – Berlin/Brandenburg, 1st round
- 29.4. – Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein, 1st round
- 30.4. – Saxony/Saxony-Anhalt/Thuringia, 1st round