In the wage dispute in the German retail sector, employers are pushing for a swift agreement. The German Retail Federation (HDE) accuses the ver.di union of hindering already achievable regional solutions by making additional demands on top of the collectively agreed minimum wage. Employers intend to present new offers with a 36-month term starting in September.
“Millions of retail workers are waiting for an increase in their collectively agreed wages. Viable solutions for the retail sector are on the table; ver.di must not unnecessarily complicate a collective agreement now with a sham debate about the minimum wage,” explains HDE collective bargaining director Steven Haarke.
According to the German Retail Federation (HDE), collectively agreed starting wages, including vacation and Christmas bonuses, are already above the statutory minimum wage of €14,60, which is scheduled to come into effect in January 2027. Employers emphasize that, given the difficult economic situation, any agreement must remain sustainable for companies and must not jeopardize jobs.
The wage negotiations had recently stalled. In Baden-Württemberg, the regional negotiating partners had reached a potential agreement after twelve hours of talks at the beginning of July. The employers' offer proposed a total wage increase of 4,4 percent in two stages over a 24-month period. However, no agreement was reached. The German Retail Federation (HDE) blames the nationwide coordination efforts on the part of the ver.di union for this.
Ver.di rejects the accusations and criticizes the current offers as insufficient. Depending on the region, the union is demanding increases of around seven percent or fixed monthly payments of up to 300 euros, as well as an additional 150 euros for trainees, with a contract term of mostly twelve months. Ver.di recently continued the wage dispute with warning strikes in several federal states.
The next regional rounds of negotiations are scheduled for August 19 in Central Germany, August 24 in Hesse and August 26 in North Rhine-Westphalia, among other dates.
