The deadlocked collective bargaining negotiations in the retail sector are to be continued soon after a top-level meeting between Verdi and the German Trade Association (HDE) at the state level. The federal executive boards of both sides agreed on this on Thursday, as the union and the HDE announced in the evening. The collective bargaining parties are thus sticking to the previous negotiation format at the federal state level.
The employers canceled the negotiations after months of no progress and called for top-level talks with Verdi at the federal level. They called for a new negotiation format. Autonomy in collective bargaining now remains in the regions.
Both sides agreed on the goal of an initial agreement in one of the regions, which could then be quickly transferred to the other tariff areas and end the collective bargaining conflict nationwide, the HDE announced in the evening. The state commissions would now have to decide which tariff area could take on this role. “All state commissions would therefore now be advised to seek a quick, autonomous decision based on the available offer,” it said.
The next round of negotiations was originally scheduled for November 30th in North Rhine-Westphalia, but was then canceled. It remained unclear on Thursday evening whether the appointment should now take place again and whether the pilot could possibly be concluded in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Verdi positively evaluated the employers’ announcement that they would recommend resuming negotiations in the federal states. “The employees have been waiting too long for a solution to the conflict and, above all, for an improvement in their income situation,” stated Verdi board member Silke Zimmer. The union has once again called on around 10,000 retail and wholesale employees nationwide to go on a warning strike this Friday.
The negotiations in the federal states affect millions of employees. 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. The employers recently offered ten percent more plus an inflation compensation bonus with a term of 24 months. (dpa)