Members of the Verdi services union are on strike (symbol photo) Photo: dpa
From BZ/dpa
The Verdi union called for warning strikes in retail in Berlin and Brandenburg from Friday. In the current collective bargaining, the employers have presented offers that would mean a massive loss of real wages, the union said. The wholesale trade has been on strike since Thursday.
According to the union, employees from Kaufland, Rewe (Oranienburg), Edeka (Freienbrink and Mittenwalde), Galeria and H&M will take part in the industrial action. A rally at the Berlin Cathedral was announced for 11 a.m. It was unclear early in the morning whether the warning strike would lead to branch closures.
Verdi demands an additional 2.50 euros per hour in retail and a minimum fee of 13.50 euros per hour. Verdi is demanding 13 percent more wages in wholesale. According to the union, the term of the collective agreement should be 12 months.
According to the union announcement, employers have a wage increase of 5.3 percent from October 2023. “For the lowest wage group, the hourly wage would be EUR 13.00 – only 59 cents above the statutory minimum wage that will apply from January 1, 2024,” said Verdi. In wholesale, employers are offering an increase of 5.1 percent from September 2023.