Union representatives have announced an escalation in the ongoing wage dispute with the German Federal Association of Digital Publishers and Newspaper Publishers (BDZV), initiating multi-day work stoppages across editorial teams. Verdi, the service sector trade union, confirmed the action, stating the strikes are intended to increase pressure ahead of the tenth round of negotiations.
The most significant impact of the walkouts is expected in southern Germany this week, with union officials describing the actions as a “clear signal” to the publishers. According to Verdi negotiator Matthias von Fintel, the strikes reflect considerable frustration among employees regarding the “unacceptable approach” taken by the publishers during previous discussions.
The decision to strike was made jointly by Verdi and the German Journalists’ Union (DJV), both parties involved in the collective bargaining process. Von Fintel emphasized the demand for “negotiations on equal footing – not for the sake of delay” expressing the expectation that publishers will address the concerns stemming from what they view as a rollback of employer offers made in late June, perceived as a disregard for the work of editorial staff. The unions are seeking a resolution that adequately acknowledges the contributions and value of journalistic labor.
