Thousands of employees in wholesale and retail have stopped working due to stalled collective bargaining in several federal states. The Verdi union had called on a total of around 10,000 employees to go on warning strike. The union announced that 3,000 employees in retail and foreign trade took part in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Berlin and Brandenburg it was 1,350. Verdi also called on employees in Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Hamburg and Bavaria to strike.
With the warning strikes, Verdi wants to increase the pressure in collective bargaining. “In any case, the strike measures will continue,” said a spokeswoman in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The negotiations in the federal states affect millions of employees and are expected to continue soon. Verdi demands at least 2.50 euros more per hour in retail 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 for a term of two years. (dpa)