24-hour warning strikes, organized by the service union Verdi, began Tuesday night at six German seaports. The affected locations are Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Bremen, Wilhelmshaven, Emden, and Brake. The strike action stems from ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. Verdi is demanding an 8.2 percent increase in hourly wages, or at least an increase of €2.50 per hour. Prior to the strikes, the employees overwhelmingly rejected the offer made by the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS). Verdi is seeking a contract duration of twelve months. The ZDS had previously offered a 5.1 percent wage increase, an additional €300 in vacation pay, and a €460 increase in the A-paušale over a 19-month period. Employees strongly criticized this counter-proposal due to its lengthy duration and the modest increase offered to lower-paid groups.
Economy / Finance
