The trade union Verdi has expanded warning strikes nationwide from Tuesday to Thursday regarding the Deutsche Telekom, simultaneously aiming to increase pressure during negotiations with the Postbank.
Verdi stated on Monday that its goal is to reinforce its demands during the current collective bargaining round. Planned labor actions and demonstrations are set for eight locations, including Hannover, Frankfurt, and Berlin. Over 32,000 employees have already participated in strikes in recent weeks.
Specifically, Verdi is demanding an increase of 6.6 percent in pay, coupled with a collective agreement running for twelve months. Additionally, they are calling for the introduction of an annual employee bonus of €660. Furthermore, the compensation rates for apprentices and those in dual studies should be raised by €120 per month. For these claims, Verdi seeks an additional annual member bonus of €240.
The fourth round of negotiations between Verdi and Deutsche Telekom is scheduled for May 26th and 27th. The German Telekom group comprises 20 contractually bound companies, each with its own collective agreements. The majority of these agreements are set to expire by March 31, 2026.
Disagreements persist concerning the collective bargaining round for the approximately 9,000 employees of the Postbank, which are part of the Deutsche Bank group. According to Verdi, the employers submitted an offer that stipulates pay increases of 2.4 percent starting in July 2026, with an additional 2.3 percent increase after one year. However, the trade union deems this offer insufficient to conclude the negotiations.
Jan Duscheck, the lead negotiator for Verdi, criticized the notion that Postbank employees would have to accept a reduction in real wages despite the bank achieving record profits. He stressed that sufficient economic room exists for a favorable collective agreement and that this room must be utilized. In recent weeks, numerous employees held strikes nationwide to underscore their demands, and the union now plans to extend the warning strikes in the coming weeks.
Verdi is asking for an eight percent wage increase, with a minimum supplemental amount of €300 per month, plus a raise of €200 in training allowances. Beyond salary negotiations, the union is also focused on securing employment and job locations, as well as positive career prospects for staff amid the integration of the Postbank into the Deutsche Bank group. Negotiations are scheduled to continue in Frankfurt on June 15, 2026.
