The service union Verdi has once again called for nationwide warning strikes during the collective bargaining negotiations for the retail sector. The union announced that thousands of employees are scheduled to strike this Friday, with major rallies planned in Dortmund, Berlin, and Wiesbaden.
Silke Zimmer, a member of the Verdi federal executive board responsible for the trade sector, criticized the employers, stating, “The employers are playing games with time during these wage negotiations-therefore, we must increase the pressure now.” She asserted that despite more than twenty-five negotiation rounds across all sixteen retail tariff areas, the employers’ associations have submitted only a minimally improved offer. This offer still entails real wage losses and “zero months”-meaning waiting periods before the first pay increase takes effect.
In retail, the union pointed out that the employer offer in North Rhine-Westphalia, for instance, included a 2.4 percent pay rise effective November 1, 2026, following six months of delays. A further 2.0 percent was offered by August 1, 2027, following three additional waiting periods. Zimmer dismissed this tactic, saying, “If they come with something like that, they are not aiming for negotiations on an equal footing; they insist on maximum positions. We will not accept that.”
The situation in wholesale and foreign trade is no different, the union representative noted. She revealed that following 35 negotiation rounds since May 18, 2026, employers in the 20 relevant tariff areas have failed to present a better offer. Zimmer indicated that this obstructive stance is pushing workers, who are struggling to afford their own groceries, onto the streets. She warned that how employers treat their staff is jeopardizing the future of the country’s largest private industry.
Upcoming negotiation dates have been set for the retail sector: on Monday in Hesse and within the Verdi regional association for Lower Saxony-Bremen. For wholesale trade, negotiations are scheduled for July 10 in Baden-Württemberg. Zimmer concluded by stating that the employers now have a chance over the next 14 days to end their misguided approach during the negotiation rounds and finally present a viable offer, paving the way for a fair collective agreement.
