Employees at German seaports have overwhelmingly rejected the latest offer presented by their employers. The union Verdi announced this on Tuesday in Hannover, confirming that a broad majority of the over 6,000 employees who participated in the short survey ending Monday opposed the deal from the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS).
Verdi’s Federal Collective Agreement Commission formally rejected the employer’s proposal on Monday evening. Negotiations spokeswoman Sylvi Krisch stated, “Now, the matter must return to the negotiation table to achieve an outcome that aligns with the interests of the employees.”
The ZDS had initially offered wage increases of 5.1% for approximately 11,000 employees working in ports such as Hamburg, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Emden, Brake, and Wilhelmshaven. This raise would be retroactive to August 1st and would span an 18-month period. Furthermore, the employer included a minimum increase of €1.20 per hour.
Verdi, however, is demanding an 8.2% increase in hourly wages, with a minimum floor of €2.50 per hour, over a 12-month duration.
While a fourth negotiation meeting has not yet been scheduled, Krisch affirmed that Verdi intends to continue negotiating, though the union did not rule out the possibility of launching warning strikes.
